Apparatus, system and method of sound control

ABSTRACT

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and methods of sound control. For example, an apparatus may be configured to process one or more audio inputs to be heard in one or more personal sound zones, and a plurality of monitoring inputs, wherein the plurality of monitoring inputs represent acoustic sound at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within the one or more personal sound zones; determine a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs, and the plurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound control signals configured to drive a respective plurality of acoustic transducers such that the one or more audio inputs are to be heard in the one or more personal sound zones; and output the plurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustic transducers.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/788,868, entitled “APPARATUS,SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SOUND CONTROL”, filed Jan. 6, 2019, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to sound control.

BACKGROUND

There may be many multi-sound environments, for example, a train, a bus,an airplane, and the like, in which several users may generate and/orlisten to multiple different sounds.

In such multi-sound environments, a user may be disturbed by sounds ofone or more other user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation.

Furthermore, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements. The figures are listedbelow.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a sound controlsystem, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a deployment scheme of componentsof the sound control system, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a controller, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of an array of loudspeakers deployedto control sound in a plurality of sound control zones, in accordancewith some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 4B is a schematic illustration of an array of loudspeakers deployedto control sound in a plurality of sound control zones, in accordancewith some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a deployment scheme of a soundcontrol system, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a deployment scheme of componentsof a sound control system, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a deployment scheme of componentsof a sound control system, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a deployment scheme of componentsof a sound control system, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a deployment scheme of componentsof a sound control system, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a controller, in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a frequency selector, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a Speaker Transfer Function (STF)adapter, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of a sound control patterngenerator, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle, in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of a controller including an ActiveNoise Control (ANC) mechanism, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 16 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method of soundcontrol, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of a product, in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing”,“computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms “plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality ofitems” includes two or more items.

Some portions of the following detailed description are presented interms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on databits or binary digital signals within a computer memory. Thesealgorithmic descriptions and representations may be the techniques usedby those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance oftheir work to others skilled in the art.

An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistentsequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. Theseinclude physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, thoughnot necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical ormagnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined,compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like.It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

Some demonstrative embodiments include systems and methods, which may beefficiently implemented for controlling sound, for example, within apredefined area and/or a zone, e.g., as described below.

Some demonstrative embodiments may include methods and/or systemsconfigured to control sound within at least one personal sound zone(also referred to as “Personal Sound Bubble (PSB)”), e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a sound control system (also referredto as a “PSB system”) may be configured to produce a sound controlpattern, which may be based on at least one audio input, for example,such that at least one personal sound zone, may be created based on theaudio input.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control system may beconfigured to control sound within at least one predefined location,area or zone, e.g., at least one PSB, for example, based on audio to beheard by a user in the PSB, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control system may beconfigured to control a sound contrast between one or more first soundpatterns and one or more second sound patterns in the PSB, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, the sound control systemmay be configured to control a sound contrast between one or more firstsound patterns of audio to be heard by a user in the PSB, and one ormore second sound patterns, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, the sound control systemmay be configured to selectively increase and/or amplify the soundenergy and/or wave amplitude of one or more types of acoustic patternswithin the PSB, e.g., based on the audio to be heard in the PSB; toselectively reduce and/or eliminate the sound energy and/or waveamplitude of one or more types of acoustic patterns within the PSB,e.g., based on audio to be provided to one or more other PSBs; and/or toselectively and/or to selectively maintain and/or preserve the soundenergy and/or wave amplitude of one or more other types of acousticpatterns within the PSB.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control system may beconfigured to control the sound within the PSB based on any otheradditional or alternative input or criterion, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, the sound control systemmay be configured to control the sound within the PSB based, forexample, on one or more attributes of sound in an environment, forexample, outside of the PSB, e.g., an environment surrounding the PSB,and/or one or more other PSBs, e.g., neighbor PSBs, as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, the sound control systemmay be configured to control the sound within the PSB based, forexample, on one or more attributes of noise and/or unwanted sound, forexample, to reduce and/or eliminate one or more sound patterns withinthe PSB, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, the sound controlsystems and/or methods described herein may be configured to control inany other manner the sound energy and/or wave amplitude of one or moreacoustic patterns within the PSB, for example, to affect, alter and/ormodify the sound energy and/or wave amplitude of one or more acousticpatterns within a predefined zone.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a personal sound zone may include athree-dimensional zone, e.g., defining a volume in which sound is to becontrolled.

In one example, the personal sound zone may include a spherical volume,for example, a bubble-like volume, or any other volume having any othershape or form, and the PSB system may be configured to control the soundwithin the spherical volume.

In other embodiments, the personal sound zone may include any othersuitable volume, which may be defined, for example, based on one or moreattributes of a location at which the personal sound zone is to bemaintained.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates a soundcontrol system 100 (also referred to as a “PSB system”), in accordancewith some demonstrative embodiments. Reference is also made to FIG. 2,which schematically illustrates of a deployment scheme 200 of componentsof PSB system 100, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may be configured tocontrol sound within at least one personal sound zone 201, e.g.,including at least a personal sound zone 220, denoted “Zone 1”, forexample, based at least on at least one audio input. For example, a PSBsystem may be configured to control audio within at least one PSB 220,for example, based on the at least one audio input to be heard by a userin the PSB 220, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, personal sound zone 220 may include athree-dimensional zone. For example, personal sound zone 220 may includea spherical zone.

In one example, the personal sound zone 220 may include a predefinedzone and/or area, which may by suitable for a single person, an animal,a plant, a device, e.g., a smart home device, or any other object.

In one example, the personal sound zone 220 may include athree-dimensional zone, e.g., defining a volume in which the sound is tobe controlled.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the audio input may include audiodesignated to be heard in the personal sound zone, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may be configured tocontrol sound within a plurality of personal sound zones 201, forexample, including two or more personal sound zones, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of sound zones 201 mayinclude P personal sound zones, e.g., including the personal sound zone220 and least one other personal sound zone 229, denoted “Zone P”.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of personal sound zones201 may be configured, for example, for one or more, e.g., several,persons, animals, plants, devices or any other objects, for example, acomputing device or a personal assistant device, e.g., as describedbelow.

In one example, some environments, e.g., multi-sound environments, suchas vehicles, trains, airplanes, work spaces, homes, public places, andthe like, may include a space shared by a plurality of users, where eachuser may want to hear different sound, e.g., audio, music, voice, or thelike. According to this example, there may be a need to allow theplurality of users to enjoy an individual sound experience, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may beconfigured to create a separation between personal sound zones of theplurality of sound zones 201, for example, to implement sound separationin such multi-sound environments, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may beconfigured to divide an environment 215, e.g., a multi-soundenvironment, into several virtual independent zones, e.g., in the formof several personal sound zones, for example, such that a personal soundexperience may be delivered, for example, to each personal sound zone,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may beconfigured to use an array of acoustic transducers 108, e.g.,loudspeakers, deployed in the environment 215, for example, in a waywhich may be configured to divide the environment into the plurality ofpersonal sound zones 201, e.g., as described below.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with respect to asound control system utilizing a plurality of loudspeakers. In otherembodiments, the sound control system may include one or more othertypes of acoustic transducers, e.g., in addition to or instead of one ormore of the loudspeakers.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may beconfigured to implement an advanced signal processing method, forexample, to divide the environment 215 into the plurality of personalsound zones 201, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may enableand/or support a focused sound transmission towards a personal soundzone, e.g., personal sound zone 220, for example, while reducing,minimizing, or even eliminating, the sound intensity elsewhere, forexample, in the other personal sound zone of the plurality of personalsound zones 201, and/or at one or more other locations in environment215 outside the sound zone 220, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may enableand/or support providing to the plurality of personal sound zones 201with independent audio content, for example, even in environments, e.g.,a homogeneous environment, such as a room or a car. For example, alistener in the environment, e.g., each listener, may be able to enjoyhis own choice of audio, e.g., music, voice, news, and the like, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may beconfigured to be implemented in and/or to support various environments,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may includea vehicular system, e.g., as described below.

In one example, sound control system 100 may be implemented as part ofone or more vehicular systems of a vehicle, e.g., as described below.For example, sound control system 100 may be implemented within aninterior of the vehicle. For example, the vehicle may include a bus, avan, a car, a truck, an airplane, a ship, a train, an autonomous drivingvehicle, and/or the like.

In other embodiments, sound control system 100 may be implemented inconjunction with any other device, system and/or environment.

In one example, sound control system 100 may be configured to beimplemented in and/or configured to support transportation environments,for example, airplanes, trains and/or cars, for example, to enable auser, e.g., each user, for example, a driver, a passenger, and/or atraveler, to enjoy his or her own choice of audio.

In one example, sound control system 100 may be configured to beimplemented in and/or to support a home environment, for example, toenable and/or to support providing a tailored multimedia, e.g., TV,audio, video and/or gaming, experience to one or more users, whileaccommodating individual preferences of the users.

In one example, sound control system 100 may be configured to beimplemented in and/or to support a work environment, for example, toallow privacy and/or to improve confidentiality within the workenvironment, e.g., for users sharing a same workspace.

In one example, sound control system 100 may be configured to beimplemented in and/or to support a public environment, for example, toallow and/or to support audio transition of audio signals towards one ormore relevant zones in the public environment.

In another example, sound control system 100 may be configured to beimplemented in and/or to support any other environment.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may beconfigured to use the plurality of acoustic transducers 108, e.g.,loudspeakers, for example, to focus one or more input audio signals 117into a specific personal sound zone, for example, such that a personalsound zone, e.g., each personal sound zone, may experience a respectiveaudio signal, for example, a desired audio signal or signals, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 mayimplement an advanced signal processing method, for example, toincrease, e.g., maximize, a sound intensity of one or more input audiosignals of signals 117, for example, in a respective personal soundzone, for example, while reducing, e.g., minimizing or even eliminating,the sound intensity of one or more undesired audio signals in thepersonal sound zone 220, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may beconfigured to implement one or more signal processing techniques, forexample, to individually process sound for the plurality of soundcontrol zones 201, for example, increase, e.g., maximize, the soundintensity at each zone of the plurality of personal sound zones 201,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may beconfigured to implement one or more signal processing techniques, forexample, to jointly process sound for two or more of the sound controlzones of the plurality of personal sound zones 201, for example,increase, e.g., maximize, the sound intensity at each zone of theplurality of personal sound zones 201, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may beconfigured to provide the audio to the personal sound zone, for example,with reduced, e.g., minimal, influence on audio quality, for example,while providing a personal sound experience, for example, withoutdisturbing, or minimally disturbing, others who are not located in thepersonal sound zone, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control system 100 may includea sound controller 102 configured to control sound, for example, withinenvironment 215, e.g., as described below.

In one example, the environment 215 may include an interior of avehicle, a shared office, and/or any other environment.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound controller 102 may include aninput 125 configured to receive one or more audio inputs 117 to be heardin one or more personal sound zones, e.g., of the plurality of personalsound zones 201, e.g., as described below. For example, the one or moreaudio inputs 117 may be from one or more audio sources 119.

In one example, the one or more audio inputs 117 may include, forexample, music, phone conversations, human-machine interaction sounds,navigation inputs, vehicular alerts, and/or any other sound and/or audioinputs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, input 125 may be configured toreceive a plurality of monitoring inputs 113, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of monitoring inputs113 may represent acoustic sound at a plurality of predefined monitoringsensing locations 207, which may be defined within the one or morepersonal sound zones of the plurality of personal sound zones 201, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound controller 102 may include acontroller 120 configured to determine a sound control pattern 123 basedon the one or more audio inputs 117, and the plurality of monitoringinputs 113, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control pattern 123 mayinclude a plurality of sound control signals configured to drive theplurality of acoustic transducers 108, e.g., respectively, such that theone or more audio inputs 117 may be heard in the one or more personalsound zones, for example, of the plurality of personal sound zones 201,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound controller 102 may include anoutput 127 to output the plurality of sound control signals to theplurality of acoustic transducers 108, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern 123, for example, based onenvironment acoustic information, e.g., as described below.

In other embodiments, controller 120 may be configured to determine thesound control pattern 123, for example, even without using theenvironment acoustic information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, input 125 may be configured toreceive environment acoustic information 111 representing environmentacoustic sound at a plurality of predefined environment locations 205,which may be defined with respect to the environment 215 including theone or more personal sound zones 201, e.g., as described below.

In one example, controller 120 may be configured to improve a quality ofan audio stream transmitted to a personal sound zone, for example, usingacoustic sensors, which may be configured as “‘environment acousticsensors” to “listen” to environment sound and/or noises. For example,implementing the environment acoustic sensors may provide a technicaladvantage of allowing sound control system 100 to control, e.g., in realtime, frequencies heard by a listener in the personal sound zone 220,for example, at any time, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern 123, for example, based on theenvironment acoustic information 111, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the environment acoustic information111 may include information of acoustic sound sensed by an acousticsensor 110 at an environment location 205 of the plurality of predefinedenvironment locations 205, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the environment acoustic information111 may include information of an audio signal, e.g., of the one or moreaudio inputs 117, acoustic sound generated by a predefined audio source203 and/or any other information relating to sound in one or morelocations of environment 215, e.g., as described below.

For example, the predefined audio source 203 may include a speaker of acellular phone, sound alerts of a vehicular safety system, and/or thelike.

In other embodiments, the environment acoustic information 111 mayinclude any other additional or alternative acoustic informationrelating to the environment 215.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine a plurality of selected frequencies to be included in thesound control pattern 123, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toselect the plurality of selected frequencies from a frequency spectrum,for example, based on the environment acoustic information 111 and theone or more audio inputs 117, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the plurality of selected frequencies, for example, based onprojected audio and projected environment sound, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the projected audio may be based, forexample, on a projection of an audio input 117, which is to be heard atthe personal sound zone 220, by a transfer function from the pluralityof transducers 108 to the personal sound zone 220, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the projected environment sound maybe based, for example, on a projection of the environment acoustic soundby a transfer function from the plurality of predefined environmentlocations 205 to the personal sound zone 220, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine whether a particular frequency is to be included in theplurality of selected frequencies, for example, based on the projectedaudio at the particular frequency, and the projected environment soundat the particular frequency, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine that the particular frequency is to be included in theplurality of selected frequencies, for example, when a differencebetween the projected audio at the particular frequency and theprojected environment sound at the particular frequency is greater thana predefined threshold, e.g., as described below. The threshold may bedefined, for example, based on a desired contrast between audio to beheard in a personal sound zone and environment sound affecting thepersonal sound zone.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the plurality of sound control signals, for example, based onone or more sets of weight vectors corresponding to the one or morepersonal sound zones 210, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a set of weight vectors correspondingto a personal sound zone 220 may include a plurality of weight vectorscorresponding to the plurality of acoustic transducers 108,respectively, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a weight vector in the set of weightvectors may be based, for example, on an acoustic transfer functionbetween an acoustic transducer 108 of the plurality of acoustictransducers 108 and the personal sound zone 220, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine a sound control signal for a particular acoustic transducer108, for example, by applying to an audio input 117 to be heard in thepersonal sound zone 220 a weight vector corresponding to the particularacoustic transducer 108 from the set of weight vectors corresponding tothe personal sound zone 220, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the set of weight vectors corresponding to the personal soundzone 220, for example, based on a first plurality of acoustic transferfunctions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the first plurality of acoustictransfer functions may include acoustic transfer functions between theplurality of acoustic transducers 108 and the personal sound zone 220,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the second plurality of acoustictransfer functions may include acoustic transfer functions between theplurality of acoustic transducers 108 and one or more monitoringlocations outside the personal sound zone 220, for example, one or moremonitoring locations in one or more other personal sound zones and/orone or more monitoring locations in environment 215, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toadjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or secondpluralities of acoustic transfer functions, for example, based on theenvironment acoustic information 111, which represents the environmentacoustic sound at the plurality of predefined environment locations 205,which may be defined with respect to the environment 215 including theone or more personal sound zones 201, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toadjust the one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first orsecond pluralities of acoustic transfer functions, for example, based ona change in the location of the personal sound zone 220, e.g., asdescribed below.

In one example, environment 215 may include an interior of a vehicle andthe personal sound zone 220 may include an area at a vicinity of a headof a traveler, e.g., a driver or a passenger. For example, the personalsound zone 220 may be defined to cover an area near or around at leastone ear of the traveler. According to this example, the change in thelocation of the personal sound zone 220 may include, for example, amovement of the headrest and/or seat of the traveler, e.g., a movementup, down, backward and/or forward, which may move the head of thedriver. In one example, controller 120 may be configured to receiveposition information of a position of the seat and/or headrest, forexample, from a vehicular system of the vehicle, and controller 120 maybe configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions for thepersonal sound zone based on the position information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toadjust the one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first orsecond pluralities of acoustic transfer functions, for example, based onenvironment parameter information of one or more environmentalparameters of the environment 215, e.g., as described below.

In one example, the environment parameter information of environment 215may include, for example, a temperature in environment 215, e.g., atemperature in a vehicle, which may be received from one or morevehicular systems, e.g., an air condition vehicular system, for example,when system 100 is implemented in a vehicle. According to this example,controller 120 may be configured to receive temperature informationand/or any other information of the environment in the vehicle, forexample, from a system controller of the vehicle, and controller 120 maybe configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions for thepersonal sound zone based on the environment parameter information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the set of weight vectors corresponding to the personal soundzone 220, for example, based on a criterion relating to a contrastbetween a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the first acoustic energy may includean acoustic energy at the personal sound zone 220, for example, based onthe set of weight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the second acoustic energy mayinclude an acoustic energy at one or more monitoring locations outsidethe personal sound zone 220, e.g., one or more locations in one or moreother personal sound zones and/or at any other locations in environment215, for example, based on the set of weight vectors corresponding tothe personal sound zone 220, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the weight vector may include aplurality of weights corresponding to a respective plurality of acousticfrequencies, e.g., as described below.

In one example, the weight vector may include a plurality of weightscorresponding to some or all of the plurality of selected frequenciesfrom the frequency spectrum, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern 123, for example, based on at leastfirst and second audio inputs 117, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the first audio input may be for afirst personal sound zone, e.g., personal sound zone 220, the secondaudio input may be for a second personal sound zone, e.g., personalsound zone 229.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern 123, for example, based on a firstplurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sound at a firstplurality of monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within thefirst personal sound zone 220, and a second plurality of monitoringinputs representing acoustic sound at a second plurality of monitoringsensing locations, which are defined within the second personal soundzone 229, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configuredutilize Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) mechanism, for example, todynamically control, reduce or eliminate noise from the environment 215of personal sound zones 201.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern based on an ANC mechanism configuredto reduce residual noise outside of the personal sound zone based on theone or more audio inputs and an input from an ANC microphone, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tocontrol the sound within the at least one personal sound zone 220, e.g.,as described in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tocontrol the sound within the personal sound zone 220 based on audioinput 117, which may be designated to be heard at the personal soundzone 220, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may be configuredto receive the audio input 117, for example, from at least one soundsource 119, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, sound sources 119 mayinclude one or more digital audio sources, e.g., as described below.

In one example, sound sources 119 may include any audio source,configured to provide audio inputs 117, for example, audio signals,phone calls, navigation instruction, human voices, machine sound, systemalerts, and/or any other voice, sound, and/or noise.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toprovide sound, e.g., audio, to the personal sound zone 220 in alocalized manner, for example, such that one or more frequencies of thesound may be directed to sound zone 220, while controlling, e.g.,reducing or eliminating, an effect of one or more frequencies of thesound outside of the personal sound zone 220, e.g., as described below.

In one example, controller 120 may be configured to control and/orlocalize the sound towards the personal sound zone 220, for example,based on the audio input 117, e.g., as described below.

For example, controller 120 may be configured to control and/or localizethe sound in the personal sound zone 220, for example, in one or morehearable frequencies, e.g., only in the hearable frequencies related toa desired sound to be heard by a user, for example, to maximize a soundperformance at the personal sound zone 220, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toreceive, e.g., via input 125, the plurality of monitoring inputs 113,which may represent the acoustic sound at the plurality of predefinedmonitoring sensing locations 207, which may be defined within personalsound zone 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may receive theplurality of monitoring inputs 113 from a plurality of monitoringsensors 112, e.g., microphones, accelerometers, tachometers and thelike, located at one or more of monitoring sensing locations 207, and/orfrom one or more virtual sensors configured to estimate theacoustic-audio at one or more of monitoring sensing locations 207, e.g.,as described in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toreceive, e.g., via input 125, the environment acoustic information 111,which may represent environment acoustic sound at the plurality ofpredefined environment locations 205, which may be defined with respectto the environment 215 including personal sound zone 220, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may receive theinformation 111 of acoustic sound from the plurality of acoustic sensors110, e.g., microphones, accelerometers, tachometers and the like,located at one or more of the plurality of predefined environmentlocations 205, and/or from one or more virtual sensors configured toestimate the acoustic sound at one or more of the plurality ofpredefined environment locations 205, e.g., as described in detailbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern 123, for example, based on the audioinput 117 to be provided to the sound control zone 220, the environmentacoustic information 111 and/or the plurality of monitoring inputs 113,and to output the sound control pattern 123 to control the plurality ofacoustic transducers 108, e.g., as described in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of acoustic transducers108, e.g., a plurality of speakers, may include, for example, a speakerarray, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may control theplurality of acoustic transducers 108 to generate, for example, based onsound control pattern 123, an audio output pattern 122 configured tocontrol the audio within personal sound zone 220, e.g., as describedbelow.

In one example, the plurality of accosting transducers 108 may include aplurality of speakers, loudspeakers or any other acoustic transducersconfigured to focus audio output pattern 122, e.g., based on a multitudeof the audio inputs 117, for example, into the one or more personalsound zones 201, for example, such that each personal sound zone 220 mayexperience the respective audio input, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of accostingtransducers 108 may include an array of loudspeakers deployed inenvironment 215, e.g., including the personal sound zone 220, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of acoustic transducers108 may include, for example, an array of one or more acoustictransducers, e.g., at least one suitable speaker, to produce the audiooutput pattern 122, for example, based on sound control pattern 123.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of acoustic transducers108 may be positioned at one or more locations, which may be determinedbased on one or more attributes of personal sound zone 220, e.g., a sizeand/or shape of zone 220, an expected location and/or directionality ofpersonal sound zone 220, one or more attributes of the audio input 117to be heard in the personal sound zone 220, a number of the plurality ofacoustic transducers 108, and/or the like.

In one example, the plurality of acoustic transducers 108 may include aspeaker array including a predefined number, denoted M, of speakers or amultichannel acoustical source.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of acoustic transducers108 may include an array of speakers implemented using a suitable“compact acoustical source” positioned at a suitable location, e.g.,external to personal sound zone 220. In another example, the array ofspeakers may be implemented using a plurality of speakers distributed inspace, e.g., around personal sound zone 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments the plurality of environment locations205 may be distributed externally to personal sound zone 220. Forexample, one or more of the plurality of environment locations 205 maybe distributed on, or in proximity to, an envelope or enclosuresurrounding personal sound zone 220.

For example, if personal sound zone 220 is defined by a sphericalvolume, then one or more of the plurality of environment locations 205may be distributed on a surface of the spherical volume and/or externalto the spherical volume.

In another example, one or more of the plurality of environmentlocations 205 may be distributed in any combination of locations onand/or external to the personal sound zone 220, e.g., one or morelocations surrounding the spherical volume.

In some demonstrative embodiments, monitoring sensing locations 207 maybe distributed within personal sound zone 220, for example, in proximityto the envelope of personal sound zone 220 and/or at any other locationswithin personal sound zone 220.

For example, if zone 220 is defined by a spherical volume, thenmonitoring sensing locations 207 may be distributed on a sphericalsurface having a radius, which is lesser than a radius of personal soundzone 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of acoustic sensors 110may be configured and/or distributed to sense the acoustic sound at oneor more of the plurality of environment locations 205.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of acoustic sensors 110may be configured to listen to the environment and/or to providereference signals, e.g., the environment acoustic information 111, basedon sound sensed on the environment 215, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tocontrol “wanted” sound within at least one personal sound zone, e.g.,the sound input 117 to be provided to personal sound zone 220, forexample, by selectively controlling the wanted sound in one or morefrequencies, e.g., only in the hearable frequencies related to thewanted sound, e.g., as described below.

For example, the selective control of the wanted sound in the one ormore frequencies, e.g., only in the hearable frequencies related to thewanted sound, may provide a technical advantage of increasing, e.g.,maximizing, the controller sound performance of controller 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toutilize the environment acoustic information 111, for example, toestimate an acoustic energy, e.g., an unwanted acoustic energy, in theone or more hearable frequencies at the plurality of environmentlocations 205. For example, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern 123 for the personal sound zone 220,while utilizing the estimated environment unwanted acoustical energy,which may mask, e.g., at monitoring locations 205, the sound to be heardin personal sound zone 220, e.g., audio input 117.

In one example, controller 120 may be configured to utilize theenvironment acoustic information 111, for example, to estimate thehearable frequencies within the at least one personal sound zone 220,related to the environment unwanted acoustical energy which mask thesound desired to be heard in the private sound zone 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tospectrally estimate an environment noise and its contribution to apersonal sound zone 220, for example, based on environment acousticinformation 111.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tocontrol sounds within the personal sound zone 220, for example, based onrelevant “dominant” audio frequencies relative to the environment noisesources. For example, using only the dominant audio frequencies, e.g.,not all the frequency spectrum, may provide a technical solutionsupporting a reduced complexity, e.g., a reduced computationalcomplexity, a reduced processing complexity, a reduced processing delay,and/or reduced power consumption, of system 100.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toimplement and/or support performing spectral analysis to the incomingaudio streaming 117, for example, to optimize a solution, usingconstrains in the relevant dominant frequencies, and/or optimizing thesolution complexity, by deciding which frequencies to solve.

In one example, controller 120 may be configured to implement thespectral analysis, for example, for different sound types of an audioinput, e.g., speech, music, alerts, and/or the like.

In another example, controller 120 may be configured to implement thespectral analysis, for example, for multiple sound bubbles.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of monitoring sensors112 may be configured to sense the acoustic sound at one or more ofmonitoring sensing locations 207.

In one example, the plurality of monitoring sensors 112 may beconfigured to sense and/or monitor an effectiveness of the acousticsound at the plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations 207.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of monitoring sensors112 may be configured to generate the plurality of monitoring inputs 113representing the acoustic sound at the plurality of predefinedmonitoring sensing locations 207 within the personal sound zone 220,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of monitoring sensors112 may be configured to generate monitoring signals, e.g., theplurality of monitoring inputs 113, and/or may be located in thepersonal sound zone 220.

In one example, the plurality of monitoring sensors 112 may be used tomonitor, e.g., in real time, an effectiveness of audio in the personalsound zone 220, to define a dimension of the personal sound zone 220and/or to continuously optimize, e.g., in real time, the performance ofthe audio in the personal sound zone 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toadjust and/or optimize, e.g., in real time, transfer functions, e.g.,transfer functions from the plurality of transducers 108 to the one ormore personal sound zones 220, for example, to accommodate for changesin the system and/or environment, for example, if a user changes anacoustical environment effect, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured touse the monitoring inputs 113 and/or the environment acousticinformation 111, for example, to optimize one or more of the transferfunctions, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may optimize one ormore of the transfer functions, for example, based on a Virtual Sensingmethodology, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may adjust and/oroptimize one or more of the transfer functions, for example, based onone or more scenarios, which may cause an acoustical environment effectand/or change, e.g., as described below.

For example, controller 120 may adjust optimize one or more of thetransfer functions, for example, based on movement of people, movementof objects, a temperature change and/or any other environmental and/orphysical changes in environment 215.

For example, controller 120 may adjust and/or optimize one or more ofthe transfer functions, for example, based on a change in the locationof a personal sound zone 220. For example, a personal sound zone 220 maybe moved and/or changed. In one example, when system 100 is implementedwithin a vehicle, a personal sound zone for the driver may be movedbased on movement of the driver and/or the seat of the driver.

In one example, the plurality of monitoring sensors 112 and/or theplurality of acoustic sensors 110 may include and/or may be implementedby one or more electronic sources, acoustic sources, electronic signalsand/or sensors, for example, microphones, accelerometers, opticalsensors, e.g., a laser sensor, a lidar sensor, a camera, a radar,digital audio signals and/or any other sensor.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more of the plurality ofacoustic sensors 110 and/or one or more of the plurality of monitoringsensors 112 be implemented using one or more “virtual sensors” (“virtualmicrophones”). A virtual microphone corresponding to a particularmicrophone location may be implemented by any suitable algorithm and/ormethod capable of evaluating an acoustic pattern, which would have besensed by an actual acoustic sensor located at the particular microphonelocation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tosimulate and/or perform the functionality of the virtual microphone,e.g., by estimating and/or evaluating the acoustic audio pattern at theparticular location of the virtual microphone.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may include a first arrayof one or more of the plurality of acoustic sensors 110, e.g.,microphones, accelerometers, tachometers and the like, configured tosense the acoustic sound at one or more of the plurality of environmentlocations 205. For example, the plurality of acoustic sensors 110 mayinclude one or more sensors to sense acoustic sound in a zone outsidepersonal sound zone 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more of the sensors of thefirst array may be implemented using one or more “virtual sensors”. Forexample, the first array may be implemented by a combination of at leastone microphone and at least one virtual microphone. A virtual microphonecorresponding to a particular microphone location of the plurality ofenvironment locations 205 may be implemented by any suitable algorithmand/or method, e.g., as part of controller 120 or any other element ofsystem 100, capable of evaluating an acoustic pattern, which would havebe sensed by an acoustic sensor located at the particular microphonelocation. For example, controller 120 may be configured to evaluate theacoustic pattern of the virtual microphone based on at least one actualacoustic pattern sensed by the at least one microphone of the firstarray.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may include a second arrayof one or more of the plurality of monitoring sensors 112, e.g.,microphones, configured to sense the acoustic sound at one or more ofmonitoring sensing locations 207. For example, the plurality ofmonitoring sensors 112 may include one or more sensors to sense theacoustic sound patterns in a zone within personal sound zone 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more of the sensors of thesecond array may be implemented using one or more “virtual sensors”. Forexample, the second array may include a combination of at least onemicrophone and at least one virtual microphone. A virtual microphonecorresponding to a particular microphone location of monitoring sensinglocations 207 may be implemented by any suitable algorithm and/ormethod, e.g., as part of controller 120 or any other element of system100, capable of evaluating an acoustic pattern, which would have besensed by an acoustic sensor located at the particular microphonelocation. For example, controller 120 may be configured to evaluate theacoustic pattern of the virtual microphone based on at least one actualacoustic pattern sensed by the at least one microphone of the secondarray.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the number, location and/ordistribution of the environment locations 205 and/or monitoring sensinglocations 207, and/or the number, location and/or distribution of one ormore acoustic sensors at one or more of environment locations 205 and/ormonitoring sensing locations 207 may be determined based on a size ofpersonal sound zone 220 or of an envelope of personal sound zone 220, ashape of personal sound zone 220 or of the envelope of personal soundzone 220, one or more attributes of the acoustic sensors to be locatedat one or more of the environment locations 205 and/or monitoringsensing locations 207, e.g., a sampling rate of the sensors, and thelike.

In one example, one or more acoustic sensors, e.g., microphones,accelerometers, tachometers and the like, may be deployed at environmentlocations 205 and/or or monitoring sensing locations 207 according tothe Spatial Sampling Theorem, e.g., as defined below by Equation 1.

For example, a number of the plurality of acoustic sensors 110, adistance between the plurality of acoustic sensors 110, a number of themonitoring sensors 112 and/or a distance between the monitoring sensors112 may be determined in accordance with the Spatial Sampling Theorem,e.g., as defined below by Equation 1.

In one example, the plurality of acoustic sensors 110 and/or theplurality of monitoring sensors 112 may be distributed, e.g., equallydistributed, with a distance, denoted d, from one another. For example,the distance d may be determined as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{d \leq \frac{c}{2 \cdot f}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

wherein c denotes the speed of sound and f_(max) denotes a maximalfrequency at which audio control is desired.

For example, in case the maximal frequency of interest is f_(max)=100[Hz], the distance d may be determined as

${d \leq \frac{343}{2 \cdot 100}} = {{1.71\lbrack m\rbrack}.}$

In other embodiments, any other distances and/or deployment schemes maybe used.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, deployment scheme200 may be configured with respect to a circular or spherical personalsound zone 220. For example, the plurality of environment locations 205may be distributed, e.g., substantially evenly distributed, in aspherical or circular manner around and outside of personal sound zone220, and/or monitoring sensing locations 207 may distributed, e.g.,substantially evenly distributed, in a spherical or circular mannerwithin personal sound zone 220.

However in other embodiments, components of system 100 may be deployedaccording to any other deployment scheme including any suitabledistribution of environment locations 205 and/or monitoring sensinglocations 207, e.g., configured with respect a personal sound zone ofany other suitable form and/or shape.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, the plurality ofmonitoring sensors 112 and/or acoustic sensors 110 may be located, forexample, using virtual sensing techniques, for example, to locatemonitoring sensors 112 and/or acoustic sensors 110 in feasiblelocations, e.g., in a headrest, above an occupied seat in a car and thelike, while enabling a personal sound zone 220 for a user 202, forexample, without a need to locate microphones in human ears of the userand/or surrounding a head of the user.

In one example, a virtual sensor, e.g., a virtual microphone, signal,denoted ê_(l) ^(V)[n], may be determined based on a sum of a desiredvirtual sensor, denoted d_(l) ^(V)[n], and a virtual audio signalestimation, denoted

_(l) ^(V)[n], e.g., as follows:

ê _(l) ^(V)[n]=d _(l) ^(V)[n]+

_(l) ^(V)[n]  (2)

For example, a virtual sensing transfer function, denoted {h_(j,l)}, maybe defined to fulfill the following requirement:

$\begin{matrix}{{d_{l}^{V}\lbrack n\rbrack} \cong {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{M_{P}}{{h_{j,l}\lbrack n\rbrack}*{d_{j}^{P}\lbrack n\rbrack}}}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

For example, the virtual sensing transfer function {h_(j,l)} may bedesigned to map a physical desired signal, denoted d_(1,L N) _(P)^(P)[n] to a virtual desired signal, denoted d_(1,L M) _(V) ^(V)[n].

For example, the virtual mic signal may be determined, e.g., as follows:

e ^ l V [ n ] = d l V [ n ] + l V [ N ] ≅ ∑ j = 1 M P h j , l [ n ] * dj P [ n ] + l V [ n ] ( 4 )

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tocontrol an acoustic contrast of sound within the personal sound zone220, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tocreate an acoustic contrast between the personal sound zone 220 andsurroundings of the personal sound zone 220, e.g., as described below.

In one example, the acoustic contrast may be between an audio input forthe personal sound zone 220, e.g., audio input 117, and one or moreother audio inputs for other personal sound zone, and/or between asubset of a plurality of audio inputs to a complementary subset of theplurality of audio inputs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toutilize the environment acoustic information 111, for example, toincrease, e.g., maximize, the acoustic contrast between the personalsound zone 220 and surroundings of the personal sound zone 220, forexample, with reduced, e.g., minimal, effect on an audio quality, e.g.,in the personal sound zone 220, in the environment 215, and/or at one ormore other personal sound zones.

In one example, the environment acoustic information 111 may serve asreference signals to the controller 120. According to this example, thecontroller 120 may use environmental prior acoustical knowledge, forexample, to modify in the audio output pattern 122 one or more relevantfrequencies, which may be designated to be heard by a user at thepersonal sound zone 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toreceive the environment acoustic information 111 and/or the plurality ofmonitoring inputs 113, and, for example, based on an acoustic contrastfor the personal sound zone 220, to output the sound control signal 122to the plurality of acoustic transducers 108, e.g., as described below.

In one example, the environment acoustic information 111 and/or theplurality of monitoring inputs 113 may be delayed by a configurabledelay time by controller 120, for example, to allow sufficient time fortransmission and processing of the sound control signal 123. Forexample, the delay time may be based, for example, on a nature of one ormore of the inputs to controller 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toimplement and/or support an optimization method, for example, to improvea quality of the audio output pattern 122, e.g., the audio streamtransmitted to the personal sound zone 220, for example, based on theenvironment acoustic information 111, which may represent environmentnoises and/or may enable control of the audio in the personal sound zone220, for example, in real-time.

In one example, controller 120 may be configured to utilize theenvironment acoustic information 111 to consider one or morefrequencies, e.g., only frequencies heard by the listener at specifictime, and/or any other frequencies.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toimplement an optimization method to provide reduced, e.g., minimal,influence to the audio quality, for example, while providing a personalsound experience, for example, without disturbing other users, which arenot located in the PSB 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller may be configured toutilize the environment acoustic information 111 and/or the plurality ofmonitoring inputs 113, for example, to improve audio at the personalsound zone 220, for example, with reduced, e.g., minimal, disturbance toother zones, which are located outside the personal sound zone 220,e.g., which may be defined by the plurality of monitoring sensors 112.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tomodify sound control pattern 123 sent to audio transducers 108, forexample, based on the environment acoustic information 111, for example,to achieve a local sound bubble, e.g., a PSB 220, with reduced, e.g.,minimal, effect on a surrounding sound, e.g., at environment 215.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tosupport an optimization method, for example, to enable a personal soundexperience, e.g., at the personal sound zone 220, for example, evenwithout disturbing others who are not located in the personal sound zone220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toindividually or jointly control a plurality of audio inputs for aplurality of personal sound zones, for example, by performing one ormore operations described above for one personal sound zone, e.g.,personal sound zone 220, for each zone of the plurality of personalsound zones, e.g., as described below.

In one example, a sound control signal, denoted “audio signal”, of theplurality of sound controls signals of the sound control pattern 123e.g., for an acoustic transducer 108, may be determined, for example,based on an audio input 117 designated to be heard in the personal soundzone 220, inputs from acoustic sensors 110, inputs from monitoringsensors 112, and/or based on other audio signals which are not requiredin the personal sound zone 220.

For example, the sound control signal may be determined based on the oneor more audio inputs 117, the environment acoustic information 111and/or the plurality of monitoring inputs 113, e.g., as follows:

Sound control signal′=f(environment mics(n),monitoring mics(n),Audiosignal^(l-P)(n))  (5)

In some demonstrative embodiments, a PSB system, e.g., system 100, maybe combined with one or more other systems, for example, to improve theaudio quality at the personal sound zone 220.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the PSB system 100 may be combinedwith, and/or may implement, an Active Noise Control/Cancelation (ANC)system, which may be configured for example, to reduce or eliminateundesirable noise, e.g., at the personal sound zone 220, e.g., asdescribed below.

In one example, controller 120 may be configured to utilize acombination of the personal sound control techniques described hereintogether with ANC techniques, for example, to control sound in PSB 220based on a combination of the audio input 117 and ANC of one or moreunwanted noise signals, e.g., as described below. According to thisexample, performance of a PSB system may be improved, for example, byusing ANC to reduce leftover undesired sounds in the PSB, for example,originating from other PSBs and/or other noise sources. For example,audio streams for PSB 220 may be used as inputs of an ANC system, forexample, as reference inputs, for example, to reduce the effect of theseaudio streams, for example, in zones were those streams are not wanted,e.g., as described below.

In one example, controller 120 may be configured to determine soundcontrol pattern 123 for Q sound zones 210, e.g., including personalsound zones 220 and 229.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a predefined number of monitoringsensors, denoted Lq be placed within a sound zone q.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a total of the monitoring sensors mayinclude a sum of the monitoring sensors Lq in all the personal soundzones Q, e.g., Σ_(q=1) ^(Q)L_(q).

In some demonstrative embodiments, a vector, denoted P_(q), of soundpressures corresponding to the microphone sensing locations in a zone qat a particular frequency, denoted w, may be defined, e.g., as follows:

p _(q)

[p _(q)(1,w), . . . ,p _(q)(L _(q) ,w)]^(T)  (6)

In some demonstrative embodiments, the vector P_(q) of sound pressure atthe zone q may be defined based on a product of a set of weight vectors,denoted g_(q), with a transfer function, denoted H_(q), between aplurality of acoustic transducers M, e.g., the plurality of acoustictransducers 108, and the personal sound zone q, for example, between theplurality of acoustic transducers M and the monitoring sensors at thepersonal sound zone q, e.g., as follows:

p _(q) =H _(q) g _(q)  (7)

In some demonstrative embodiments, the set of weight vectors g_(q), mayinclude a plurality of weight vectors corresponding to the plurality ofacoustic transducers M at the particular frequency ω, for example, suchthat a weight vector g_(qm) of the set of weight vectors g_(q) maycorrespond to a respective m-th transducer of the plurality oftransducers M, e.g., as follows:

g _(q)

[g _(q1)(w), . . . ,g _(qM)(w)]^(T)  (8)

In one example, the set of weight vectors g_(q), may be include a vectorof loudspeaker driving signals at the given frequency w to create thepersonal sound zone q, for example, personal sound zone 220, and/orH_(q) may represents a matrix of acoustic transfer functions between theloudspeaker drivers and the monitoring microphones in zone q.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured tomaximize a contrast in an acoustic energy between a personal sound zoneb in which the audio input is to be heard (“bright zone”), e.g.,personal sound zone 220, and another zone d (“dark zone”), e.g., one ormore other personal sound zones of the plurality of personal sound zones201.

In one example, the personal sound zone q of the plurality of personalsound zones Q may be defined as the bright zone b, and the remaining Q−1sound zones of the plurality of personal sound zones Q may be defined asthe dark zones d.

In another example, the dark zones d may include one or more other zonesor areas in the environment 215, e.g., inside or outsize zones 201.

In some demonstrative embodiments, an energy, denoted E_(b), at thebright zone, may include acoustic energy at the personal sound zone q,which may be based on the set of weight vectors g_(q) corresponding tothe personal sound zone q, and based on acoustic transfer functions,denoted H_(b), between the plurality of acoustic transducers M and thepersonal sound zone q, for example, at one or more monitoring locationsinside the personal sound zone q, e.g., as follows:

E _(b) =∥p _(b)∥² =g _(q) ^(T) H _(b) ^(T) H _(b) g _(q)  (9)

In some demonstrative embodiments, an energy, denoted E_(d), at the darkzone may include acoustic energy at the remaining Q−1 sound zones, whichmay be based on the set of weight vectors g_(q) corresponding to thepersonal sound zone q and based on acoustic transfer functions, denotedH_(d), between the plurality of acoustic transducers M and the remainingQ−1 sound zones, for example, at one or more monitoring locationsoutside the personal sound zone q, e.g., as follows:

E _(d) =∥p _(d)∥² =g _(q) ^(T) H _(d) ^(T) H _(d) g _(q)  (10)

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the set of weight vectors g_(q) corresponding to the personalsound zone q, for example, based on a criterion relating to a contrastbetween the first acoustic energy E_(b), and the second acoustic energyE_(d), e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the criterion may include limitingacoustic energy E_(b), for example, based on a volume, denoted B₀, atwhich the audio input is to be heard in the personal sound zone q,and/or minimizing the second energy E_(d), for example, to maximize thecontrast between the bright and dark zones, e.g., based on some or allof the following Criteria Set:

min_(g) E _(d)

E _(b) =B ₀

∥g _(qm)∥² ≤E _(m) , m=1, . . . ,M  (11)

wherein, the first criterion may require that the acoustic energy E_(d)in the dark zone is to be at minimum, the second criterion may requirethat the acoustic energy E_(b) in the bright zone, e.g., personal soundzone 220, may be controlled by the desired volume B₀, and/or the thirdcriterion may apply energy constraints to a speaker m. e.g., some or allspeakers, of the plurality of speakers M, for example, depending on typeand/or specification of the speaker m.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a target function, denoted L(g), maybe defined based on the Criteria Set (11), e.g., as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{L(g)} = {{g_{q}^{T}H_{d}^{T}H_{d}g_{q}} + {\lambda_{c}\left( {{g_{q}^{T}H_{b}^{T}g_{q}} - B_{0}} \right)} + {\sum\limits_{m = 1}^{M}\left( {{{g_{m}(w)}}^{2} - E_{m}} \right)}}} & (12)\end{matrix}$

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine the set of weight vectors g_(q), for example, by determining amaximal Eigen vector that minimizes the target function L(g), e.g., asfollows:

λ_(c) g _(q)=[H _(d) ^(T) H _(d)+λ _(M)]⁻¹[H _(b) ^(T) H _(b)]g_(q)  (13)

In some demonstrative embodiments, the set of weight vectors g_(q) maybe determined for the particular personal sound zone q and for theparticular frequency w, and may include a plurality of weight vectorscorresponding to the plurality of acoustic transducers, e.g., from 1 toM.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured todetermine a sound control signal, denoted Ã_(m)(w), for a particularacoustic transducer m at the particular frequency ω, for example, byapplying to an audio input, denoted Audio_(q)(w), to be heard in thepersonal sound zone q, a weight vector corresponding to the particularacoustic transducer m from the set of weight vectors g_(q),corresponding to the personal sound zone q, e.g., as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{\overset{\sim}{A}}_{m}(w)} = {\sum\limits_{q = 1}^{Q}{{g_{qm}(w)} \cdot {{Audio}_{q}(w)}}}} & (14)\end{matrix}$

wherein Ã_(m)(w) may be defined as the frequency adjusted audio outputof the speaker m, and may represent, for example, a sum of all audiooutput to each zone q of the Q zones at the frequency w, multiplied bythe appropriate weight vector g_(qm)(w).

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured toconvert the signal Ã_(m)(w) from a frequency domain to a time domain,for example, before transmitting the signal to the speaker m. Forexample, controller 120 may apply an Inverse Fast Fourier Transfer(IFFT) to the sound control signal Ã_(m)(w) for the particular acoustictransducer m at the particular frequency ω, e.g., as follows:

output_audio_(m)=ifft(Ã _(m))  (15)

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which schematically illustrates a PSBcontroller 320, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

In one example, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may perform one or moreoperations of, one or more functionalities of, and/or the role of, thePSB controller 320 (FIG. 3).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, PSB controller320 may be implemented as a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) PSBcontroller to receive a plurality of environment inputs 311 from aplurality of environment sensors 310.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, PSB controller320 may receive a plurality of monitoring inputs 313 from a plurality ofmonitoring sensors 312.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, PSB controller320 may output a sound control pattern 322 to a plurality of acoustictransducers 308.

Reference is made to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which schematically illustrate anarray of loudspeakers 400 deployed to control sound in a plurality ofsound control zones, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the array of loudspeakers 400 may beconfigured to focus two audio inputs, for example, to two respectivepersonal sound zones, e.g., as described below.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the array of loudspeakers 400 mayinclude a plurality of loudspeakers, which may be configured to send afirst sound transmission 402 towards a first personal sound zone 404,and a second sound transmission 406 towards a second personal sound zone408, e.g., as described above.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the plurality of loudspeakers of array400 may be configured to send a first sound transmission 412 towards afirst sound zone 414, e.g., a personal sound zone; and a second soundtransmission 416 for a second sound zone 418, for example, in anenvironment surrounding the first sound zone 414, e.g., as describedabove.

In other embodiments, any other configuration of the first and secondsound zones may be implemented, and/or any other number of a pluralityof sound zones may be implemented.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which schematically illustrates adeployment scheme 500 of a PSB system, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 100 (FIG. 1) may beimplemented in an environment, for example, a car, and airplane or thelike, e.g., which may be configured for two persons sitting in twoseats, e.g., as described below.

In one example, deployment scheme 500 may implement the PSB system fortwo seats, for example, two front seats of a car, and/ort any othernumber of seats, e.g., in a row, and/or any other arrangement of seats.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the PSB systemmay be configured to create at least one first PSB 502 around a head ofa first user, e.g., two PSBs around two ears of the first user, and/orat least one second PSB 508 around a head of a second user e.g., twoPSBs around two ears of the second user.

In one example, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may be configured to control thearray of loudspeakers 400 (FIG. 4) to create PSBs 504 and/or 508.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a sound control system, e.g., PSBsystem 100 (FIG. 1), may be configured to implement and/or supportvarious deployment schemes of one or more PSBs, e.g., as describedbelow.

Reference is made to FIG. 6, which schematically illustrates adeployment scheme of a PSB system 600, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, noise control system 100(FIG. 1) may perform one or more operations of, one or morefunctionalities of, and/or the role of PSB system 600.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 600 may be configured tocreate a PSB 602 for an audio signal, denoted “Signal 1”, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 600 may create PSB 602,for example, by creating an acoustic contrast for the audio signal 1between PSB 602 and one or more other areas, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 600 may be configured tocreate a high contrast between a first amplitude, e.g., a highamplitude, of the audio signal 1 inside a PSB 602, and a secondamplitude, e.g., a low amplitude, of the audio signal 1 outside PSB 602.

Reference is made to FIG. 7, which schematically illustrates adeployment scheme of a PSB system 700, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, noise control system 100(FIG. 1) may perform one or more operations of, one or morefunctionalities of, the role of PSB system 700.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 700 may be configured tocreate a plurality of PSBs for a respective plurality of audio signals,denoted “Signals 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . ”, e.g., as described below.

In one example, PSB system 700 may be implemented using multiple PSBsystems. For example, PSB system 700 may include a plurality of PSBsystems to process, e.g., individually and/or independently, theplurality of audio signals for a plurality of PSBs.

In another example, PSB system 700 may be implemented to jointlyimplement and/or control two or more PSBs of the plurality of PSBs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 700 may be configured tocreate the plurality of PSBs, for example, by creating an acousticcontrast between the plurality of audio signals, as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 700 may be configured tocreate for an audio signal, e.g., for each signal, of the plurality ofaudio signals, a high contrast between a first amplitude, e.g., a highamplitude, of the audio signal inside a respective PSB corresponding tothe audio signal, and a second amplitude, e.g., a low amplitude, of theaudio signal outside the respective PSB.

In one example, PSB system 700 may be configured to create the highcontrast for each signal, for example, by repeating the operations ofPSB system 600 (FIG. 6), e.g., for each signal of the plurality of audiosignals.

For example, PSB system 700 may create a first PSB 712, denoted “PSB A”,for a first audio signal, denoted “Signal 1”, for example, by creating ahigh contrast between a first amplitude, e.g., a high amplitude, of theaudio signal 1 inside PSB 712, and a second amplitude, e.g., a lowamplitude, of the signal 1 outside PSB 712; a second PSB 714, denoted“PSB B”, for a second audio signal, denoted “Signal 2”, for example, bycreating a high contrast between a high amplitude of the signal 2 insidePSB 714, and a low amplitude of the audio signal 2 outside PSB 714; athird PSB 716, denoted “PSB C”, for a third audio signal, denoted“Signal 3”, for example, by creating a high contrast between a highamplitude of the signal 3 inside PSB 716, and a low amplitude of theaudio signal 3 outside PSB 716; and/or a fourth PSB 718, denoted “PSBD”, for a fourth audio signal, denoted “Signal 4”, for example, bycreating a high contrast between a high amplitude of the signal 4 insidePSB 718, and a low amplitude of the signal 4 outside PSB 718.

Reference is made to FIG. 8, which schematically illustrates adeployment scheme of a PSB system 800, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, noise control system 100(FIG. 1) may perform one or more operations of, one or morefunctionalities of, and/or the role of PSB system 800.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 800 may be configured tocreate a PSB for an audio signal, denoted “Signal 1”.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 800 may create the PSB foraudio signal 1, for example, by creating an acoustic contrast betweenthe audio signal 1 and a plurality of other (unwanted) audio signals,denoted “Signals 2, 3, 4, . . . ”, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 800 may be configured tocreate a high contrast for the audio signal 1, for example, by creatinginside PSB 802 a first amplitude, e.g., a high amplitude, of the signal1, and creating inside PSB 802 a second amplitude, e.g., a lowamplitude, of the plurality of other audio signals.

Reference is made to FIG. 9, which schematically illustrates adeployment scheme of a PSB system 900, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, sound control system 100(FIG. 1) may perform one or more operations of, one or morefunctionalities of, and/or the role of PSB system 900.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 900 may be configured tocreate a plurality of PSBs for a respective plurality of input audiosignals, e.g., as described below.

In one example, PSB system 900 may be implemented using multiple PSBsystems. For example, PSB system 900 may include a plurality of PSBsystems to process, e.g., individually and/or independently, theplurality of audio signals for a plurality of PSBs.

In another example, PSB system 900 may be implemented to jointlyimplement and/or control two or more PSBs of the plurality of PSBs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 900 may be configured tocreate acoustic contrasts between the audio signals at the plurality ofPSBs, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSB system 900 may be configured tocreate a high contrast for an audio signal of a PSB, e.g., each PSB, ofthe plurality of PSBs, for example, by creating inside the PSB a firstamplitude, e.g., a high amplitude, to the dedicated audio signal of thePSB, and creating inside the PSB a second amplitude, e.g., a lowamplitude, to the remaining audio signals of the plurality of audiosignals inside the PSB.

For example, PSB system 900 may create a first PSB 912, denoted “PSB A”,for a first audio signal, denoted “Signal 1”, for example, by creatinginside PSB 912 a high contrast between a first amplitude, e.g., a highamplitude, of the audio signal 1, and a second amplitude, e.g., a lowamplitude, of the signals 2, 3, and/or 4; a second PSB 914, denoted “PSBB”, for a second audio signal, denoted “Signal 2”, for example, bycreating inside PSB 914 a high contrast between a high amplitude of thesignal 2, and a low amplitude of the signals 1, 3 and/or 4; a third PSB916, denoted “PSB C”, for a third audio signal, denoted “Signal 3”, forexample, by creating inside PSB 916 a high contrast between a highamplitude of the signal 3 and a low amplitude of signals 1, 2, and/or 4;and/or a fourth PSB 918, denoted “PSB D”, for a fourth audio signal,denoted “Signal 4”, for example, by creating a high contrast between ahigh amplitude of the signal 4, and a low amplitude of signals 1, 2,and/or 3.

In one example, PSB system 900 may be configured to create the highcontrast for each PSB, for example, by repeating the operations of PSBsystem 800 (FIG. 8), e.g., for each PSB of the plurality of PSBs.

Reference is made to FIG. 10, which schematically illustrates acontroller 1020, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Forexample, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may include, perform the role of,perform the functionality of, perform the role of, and/or perform one ormore operations of controller 1020.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, controller 1020may include a frequency selector 1050, e.g., implemented as a FrequencyList Module, to output a plurality of selected frequencies 1052, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, controller 1020may include a Speaker Transfer function (STF) adapter 1040, e.g.,implemented as Adaptive STF Module, to output a plurality of acoustictransfer functions 1042, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, controller 1020may include a sound control pattern generator 1030, e.g., implemented asan Output Module, to process a plurality of sets of weight vectors 1023,and to generate a sound control pattern including a plurality of soundcontrol signals 1032 to a plurality of acoustic transducers 1008, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, the plurality ofsound control signals 1032 may be based on weight vectors 1023, and anaudio input 1017, e.g., after converting the audio input into afrequency domain, for example, by applying a Fast Fourier Transform(FFT) 119 to the audio input 1017.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, controller 1020may determine the weight vectors 1023 based on the plurality of selectedfrequencies 1052 and the acoustic transfer functions 1042, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1012 and 1014,controller 1020 may iterate over frequencies W the plurality of selectedfrequencies 1052, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at blocks 1016,controller 1020 may determine first transfer functions, denoted Hd(W),e.g., dark zone transfer functions, and/or second transfer functions,denoted Hb(W), e.g., bright zone transfer functions, for example, basedon the plurality of acoustic transfer functions from STF adapter 1040,e.g., as described above.

In one example, the bright transfer functions may include acoustictransfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers 1008and a personal sound zone q, and the dark acoustic transfer functionsmay include acoustic transfer functions between the plurality ofacoustic transducers 1008 and one or more monitoring locations outsidethe personal sound zone q, e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1018,controller 1020 may determine a set of weight vectors corresponding tothe personal sound zone q, for example, based on Equation 13, e.g., asdescribed above.

Reference is made to FIG. 11, which schematically illustrates afrequency selector 1150, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For example, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may be configured toperform one or more operations or functionalities of frequency selector1150.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, frequencyselector 1150 may be configured to determine a plurality of selectedfrequencies 1112, e.g., the plurality of selected frequencies 1052 (FIG.10), to be included in a sound control pattern, e.g., sound controlpattern 1032 (FIG. 10).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, frequencyselector 1150 may select the plurality of selected frequencies 1112 froma frequency spectrum, for example, based on environment acousticinformation 1111 and an audio input 1117.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, frequencyselector 1150 may determine the plurality of selected frequencies 1112based on projected audio 1119 and projected environment sound 1113,e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, the projectedaudio 1119 may be based on a projection 1131 of the audio input 1117 bya transfer function from the plurality of transducers 1008 (FIG. 10) tothe personal sound zone q, e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, the projectedenvironment sound 1113 may be based on a projection 1133 of theenvironment acoustic sound 1111 by a transfer function from a pluralityof predefined environment locations, e.g., the plurality of environmentlocations 205 (FIG. 1), to the personal sound zone q, e.g., as describedabove.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, frequencyselector 1150 may generate the projected environment sound 1113 in afrequency domain, for example, using an FFT 1115.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, frequencyselector 1150 may generate the projected audio 1119 in a frequencydomain, for example, using an FFT 1118.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1124, frequencyselector 1150 may determine whether a particular frequency Wk is to beincluded in the plurality of selected frequencies 1112, for example,based on whether or not a difference between the projected audio 1119 atthe particular frequency and the projected environment sound 1113 at theparticular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1126, frequencyselector 1150 may add the particular frequency Wk to the plurality ofselected frequencies 1112, for example, when the difference between theprojected audio 1119 at the particular frequency and the projectedenvironment sound 1113 at the particular frequency is greater than thepredefined threshold.

Reference is made to FIG. 12, which schematically illustrates an STFadapter 1240, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Forexample, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may be configured to perform one ormore operations or functionalities of frequency selector STF adapter1240.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, STF adapter 1240may be configured to process acoustic sound 1213 sensed by a monitoringmicrophone 1210, for example, at a monitoring sensing location, whichmay be defined within the personal sound zone q, e.g., as describedabove.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, STF adapter 1240may be configured to dynamically adjust acoustic transfer functions 1214between the plurality of acoustic transducers 1008 (FIG. 10) and themonitoring sensing location within the personal sound zone q, forexample, based on audio input 1217 from the plurality of acoustictransducers 1008 (FIG. 10).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, STF adapter 1240may be configured to adapt the acoustic transfer functions 1214, forexample, based on a comparison between the acoustic sound 1213 sensed bythe monitoring microphone 1210 at the monitoring sensing location and aresult of applying the determined acoustic transfer functions 1214 tothe audio input 1217, e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 13, which schematically illustrates a soundcontrol pattern generator 1330, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For example, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may be configured toperform one or more operations or functionalities of sound controlpattern generator 1330.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, sound controlpattern generator 1330 may process an audio input 1317, e.g., after anFFT operation 1319, and may generate a sound control pattern including aplurality of sound control signals 1325, to be provided to drive arespective plurality of acoustic transducers 1308, e.g., as describedbelow.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, sound control pattern generator 1330may generate M sound control signals 1325 to drive a respectiveplurality of M acoustic transducers 1308, e.g., transducers 108 (FIG.1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at blocks 1321 and 1323,sound control pattern generator 1330 may generate the plurality of soundcontrol signals 1325 by iterating over frequencies W of the plurality ofselected frequencies 1052 (FIG. 10), e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, sound controlpattern generator 1330 may generate the plurality of sound controlsignals 1325 based on a plurality of weight vectors 1327 correspondingto the plurality of acoustic transducers 1308 for a personal sound zoneq, e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a weight vector 1327 for an acoustictransducer 1308 for the personal sound zone q may be based, for example,on an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 1308and the personal sound zone q, e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, sound controlpattern generator 1330 may generate the plurality of sound controlsignals 1325 by multiplying the plurality of weight vectors 1327 by theaudio input 1317 at the particular frequency w, for example, accordingto Equation 14, e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, sound controlpattern generator 1330 may perform an IFFT operation 1329 on theplurality of sound control signals 1325, for example, to convert thesound control signals 1325 from the frequency-domain to the time-domain.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, sound controlpattern generator 1330 may provide the plurality of sound controlsignals 1325, for example, to the plurality of acoustic transducers1308.

Reference is made to FIG. 14, which schematically illustrates a vehicle1400, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

In one example, vehicle 1440 may include alone or more elements and/orcomponents of system 100 (FIG. 1), for example, for controlling soundwithin one or more personal sound zones within vehicle 1400.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 14, vehicle 1400 mayinclude a plurality of speakers 1408, a plurality of monitoringmicrophones 1412, and a plurality of environments microphones 1410.

In some demonstrative embodiments, vehicle 1400 may include controller120 (FIG. 1) configured to control the plurality of speakers 1408 toprovide a first personal sound zone 1420 for a driver of the vehicle1400, e.g., at a location of a headrest of a driver seat.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may beconfigured to control the plurality of speakers 1408 to provide a secondpersonal sound zone 1420, for example, for a passenger, e.g., at a frontseat near the driver seat, for example, at a location of a headrest ofthe passenger seat.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 14, the plurality ofmonitoring microphones 1412 may be located within the first and secondpersonal sounds zones 1420 and 1430.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 14, the plurality ofenvironment microphones 1410 may be located in an environment outsidethe personal sounds zones 1420 and 1430.

In other embodiments, vehicle 1400 may include any other number of theplurality of speakers 1408, the plurality of monitoring microphones1412, and/or the plurality of environment microphones 1410, any otherarrangement, positions and/or locations of the plurality of speakers1408, the plurality of monitoring microphones 1412, and/or the pluralityof environment microphones 1410, and/or any other additional oralternative components.

Reference is made to FIG. 15, which schematically illustrates acontroller 1520 including an ANC mechanism, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, controller 120 (FIG. 1) mayinclude, perform the role of, perform the functionality of, perform therole of, and/or perform one or more operations of controller 1520.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 15, controller 1520may include an ANC controller 1560, configured to reduce residual noisefrom outside of the one or more personal sound zones, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 15, controller 1520may determine a sound control pattern 1523 to be provided to a pluralityof acoustic transducers 1508, for example, by combining an output 1566of ANC controller 1560 with an output of a sound control patterngenerator 1430, e.g., sound control pattern generator 1330 (FIG. 13).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 15, ANC controller1560 may generate output 1566, for example, based on one or more audioinputs 1517, and based on one or more ANC acoustic sensor inputs 1562.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ANC acoustic sensor inputs 1562from a personal sound zone may be from one or more sensing locations,which are outside of the personal sound zone. For example, one or morethe ANC acoustic sensor inputs 1562 may be from one or more locationsaround the personal sound zone, e.g., on a perimeter of and/or at avicinity of, the personal sound zone. In another example, one or morethe ANC acoustic sensor inputs 1562 may be from one or more otherpersonal sound zones and/or at any other locations in the environment.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 1520 may be configured tosum one or more outputs, e.g., all of the outputs, of output 1566 of theANC controller 1560 and one or more, e.g., all, of a plurality of soundcontrol signals of the sound control pattern 1523.

In one example, left seat headrest speakers of a left seat in a vehicle,e.g., vehicle 1440 (FIG. 14), may be used for left seat PSB, as well asfor ANC, for example, to reduce the audio transmitted to right seatheadrest speakers of a right seat in the vehicle, for example, toachieve a PSB for the right seat, and/or vice versa, e.g., with respectto the left seat PSB.

In some demonstrative embodiments, incorporating active noise controltechnology together with the PSB technology may enable to improve PSBperformance, for example, by using ANC controller 1560 to reduceleftover undesired sounds in the personal sound bubble, which mayoriginate, for example, from other personal sound bubbles.

In some demonstrative embodiments, audio streams of audio streams 1517,which may be sent to the ANC controller 1560, e.g., as reference to theANC controller 1560, may be reduced in zones were those streams are notwanted.

Reference is made to FIG. 16, which schematically illustrates a methodof sound control, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Forexample, one or more operations of the method of FIG. 16 may beperformed by one or more elements of a sound control system, e.g., soundcontrol system 100 (FIG. 1), a sound controller, e.g., sound controller102 (FIG. 1), and/or a controller, e.g., controller 120 (FIG. 1), and/orany other component of a sound control system.

As indicated at block 1602, the method may include receiving one or moreaudio inputs to be heard in one or more personal sound zones, and aplurality of monitoring inputs, wherein the plurality of monitoringinputs represent acoustic sound at a plurality of predefined monitoringsensing locations, which are defined within the one or more personalsound zones. For example, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may receive the one ormore audio inputs 117 (FIG. 1) to be heard in one or more personal soundzones, and the plurality of monitoring inputs 113 that representing theacoustic sound at the plurality of predefined monitoring sensinglocations 207 (FIG. 2), which may be defined within the one or morepersonal sound zones, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 1604, the method may include determining a soundcontrol pattern based on the one or more audio inputs, and the pluralityof monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern including a plurality ofsound control signals configured to drive a respective plurality ofacoustic transducers such that the one or more audio inputs are to beheard in the one or more personal sound zones. For example, controller120 (FIG. 1) may determine the sound control pattern 123 (FIG. 1) basedon the one or more audio inputs 117 (FIG. 1), and the plurality ofmonitoring inputs 113 (FIG. 1), the sound control pattern 123 (FIG. 1)including the plurality of sound control signals configured to drive therespective plurality of acoustic transducers 108 (FIG. 1) such that theone or more audio inputs 117 (FIG. 1) are to be heard in the one or morepersonal sound zones, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 1608 the method may include outputting theplurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustictransducers. For example, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may output theplurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustictransducers 108 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 17, which schematically illustrates a productof manufacture 1700, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.Product 1700 may include one or more tangible computer-readablenon-transitory storage media 1702, which may include computer-executableinstructions, e.g., implemented by logic 1704, operable to, whenexecuted by at least one computer processor, enable the at least onecomputer processor to implement one or more operations at sound controlsystem 100 (FIG. 1), and/or controller 120 (FIG. 1), and/or to perform,trigger and/or implement one or more operations, communications and/orfunctionalities according to one or more FIGS. 1-16, and/or one or moreoperations described herein. The phrase “non-transitory machine-readablemedium” is directed to include all computer-readable media, with thesole exception being a transitory propagating signal.

In some demonstrative embodiments, product 1700 and/or machine-readablestorage medium 1702 may include one or more types of computer-readablestorage media capable of storing data, including volatile memory,non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable ornon-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and the like. Forexample, machine-readable storage medium 1702 may include, RAM, DRAM,Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM,programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), CompactDisk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), flash memory(e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM),polymer memory, phase-change memory, ferroelectric memory,silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, a disk, a SolidState Drive (SSD), a floppy disk, a hard drive, an optical disk, amagnetic disk, a card, a magnetic card, an optical card, a tape, acassette, and the like. The computer-readable storage media may includeany suitable media involved with downloading or transferring a computerprogram from a remote computer to a requesting computer carried by datasignals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium through acommunication link, e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 1704 may include instructions,data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause themachine to perform a method, process and/or operations as describedherein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processingplatform, computing platform, computing device, processing device,computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like,and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware,software, firmware, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 1704 may include, or may beimplemented as, software, a software module, an application, a program,a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words,values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitabletype of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code,executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Theinstructions may be implemented according to a predefined computerlanguage, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform acertain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitablehigh-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/orinterpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Python, Java, BASIC,Matlab, Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, and thelike.

EXAMPLES

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1 includes an apparatus comprising an input to receive one ormore audio inputs to be heard in one or more personal sound zones, and aplurality of monitoring inputs, wherein the plurality of monitoringinputs represent acoustic sound at a plurality of predefined monitoringsensing locations, which are defined within the one or more personalsound zones; a controller configured to determine a sound controlpattern based on the one or more audio inputs, and the plurality ofmonitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality ofsound control signals configured to drive a respective plurality ofacoustic transducers such that the one or more audio inputs are to beheard in the one or more personal sound zones; and an output to outputthe plurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustictransducers.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the input is configured to receive environment acousticinformation representing environment acoustic sound at a plurality ofpredefined environment locations, which are defined with respect to anenvironment including the one or more personal sound zones, thecontroller configured to determine the sound control pattern based onthe environment acoustic information.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 2, and optionally,wherein the environment acoustic information comprises information ofacoustic sound sensed by an acoustic sensor at an environment locationof the plurality of predefined environment locations.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of Example 2 or 3, and optionally,wherein the environment acoustic information comprises information of atleast one of an audio signal, or acoustic sound generated by apredefined audio source.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 2-4, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine aplurality of selected frequencies to be included in the sound controlpattern, the controller configured to select the plurality of selectedfrequencies from a frequency spectrum based on the environment acousticinformation and the one or more audio inputs.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of Example 5, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine the plurality ofselected frequencies based on projected audio and projected environmentsound, the projected audio is based on a projection of an audio input,which is to be heard at a personal sound zone, by a transfer functionfrom the plurality of transducers to the personal sound zone, theprojected environment sound is based on a projection of the environmentacoustic sound by a transfer function from a plurality of predefinedenvironment locations to the personal sound zone.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of Example 6, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a particularfrequency is to be included in the plurality of selected frequenciesbased on the projected audio at the particular frequency and theprojected environment sound at the particular frequency.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of Example 7, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine that the particularfrequency is to be included in the plurality of selected frequencieswhen a difference between the projected audio at the particularfrequency and the projected environment sound at the particularfrequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-8, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine theplurality of sound control signals based on one or more sets of weightvectors corresponding to the one or more personal sound zones,respectively, a set of weight vectors corresponding to a personal soundzone comprising a plurality of weight vectors corresponding to theplurality of acoustic transducers, respectively, a weight vector in theset of weight vectors is based on an acoustic transfer function betweenan acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and thepersonal sound zone.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of Example 9, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine a sound control signalfor a particular acoustic transducer by applying to an audio input to beheard in the personal sound zone a weight vector corresponding to theparticular acoustic transducer from the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of Example 9 or 10, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the set ofweight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on a firstplurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality ofacoustic transfer functions, the first plurality of acoustic transferfunctions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the pluralityof acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, the secondplurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transferfunctions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or moremonitoring locations outside the personal sound zone.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of Example 11, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustictransfer functions in the first or second pluralities of acoustictransfer functions based on environment acoustic informationrepresenting environment acoustic sound at a plurality of predefinedenvironment locations, which are defined with respect to an environmentincluding the one or more personal sound zones.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of Example 11 or 12, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or moreacoustic transfer functions in the first or second pluralities ofacoustic transfer functions based on a change in the location of thepersonal sound zone.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 11-13, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or moreacoustic transfer functions in the first or second pluralities ofacoustic transfer functions based on environment parameter informationof one or more environmental parameters of an environment including theone or more personal sound zones.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 9-14, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the set ofweight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on acriterion relating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and asecond acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises anacoustic energy at the personal sound zone based on the set of weightvectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, wherein the secondacoustic energy comprises an acoustic energy at one or more monitoringlocations outside the personal sound zone based on the set of weightvectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of Example 15, and optionally,wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on avolume at which the audio input is to be heard in the personal soundzone, and minimizing the second energy.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 9-16, andoptionally, wherein the weight vector comprises a plurality of weightscorresponding to a respective plurality of acoustic frequencies.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-17, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the soundcontrol pattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, thefirst audio input for a first personal sound zone, the second audioinput for a second personal sound zone, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine the sound control pattern based on a firstplurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sound at a firstplurality of monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within thefirst personal sound zone, and a second plurality of monitoring inputsrepresenting acoustic sound at a second plurality of monitoring sensinglocations, which are defined within the second personal sound zone.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-18, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the soundcontrol pattern based on an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) mechanismconfigured to reduce residual noise from outside of the one or morepersonal sound zones based on the one or more audio inputs and based onone or more ANC acoustic sensor inputs.

Example 20 includes a system of sound control, the system comprising aplurality of monitoring acoustic sensors to sense acoustic sound at aplurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations, which are definedwithin one or more personal sound zones; a plurality of acoustictransducers; and a controller to receive one or more audio inputs to beheard in the one or more personal sound zones, and a plurality ofmonitoring inputs from the plurality of monitoring acoustic sensors,wherein the plurality of monitoring inputs represent the acoustic soundat the plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations, wherein thecontroller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based onthe one or more audio inputs, and the plurality of monitoring inputs,the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound controlsignals configured to drive the plurality of acoustic transducers,respectively, such that the one or more audio inputs are to be heard inthe one or more personal sound zones.

Example 21 includes the subject matter of Example 20, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to receive environment acousticinformation representing environment acoustic sound at a plurality ofpredefined environment locations, which are defined with respect to anenvironment including the one or more personal sound zones, thecontroller configured to determine the sound control pattern based onthe environment acoustic information.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of Example 21, and optionally,wherein the environment acoustic information comprises information ofacoustic sound sensed by an acoustic sensor at an environment locationof the plurality of predefined environment locations.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of Example 21 or 22, andoptionally, wherein the environment acoustic information comprisesinformation of at least one of an audio signal, or acoustic soundgenerated by a predefined audio source.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 21-23, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine aplurality of selected frequencies to be included in the sound controlpattern, the controller configured to select the plurality of selectedfrequencies from a frequency spectrum based on the environment acousticinformation and the one or more audio inputs.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of Example 24, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine the plurality ofselected frequencies based on projected audio and projected environmentsound, the projected audio is based on a projection of an audio input,which is to be heard at a personal sound zone, by a transfer functionfrom the plurality of transducers to the personal sound zone, theprojected environment sound is based on a projection of the environmentacoustic sound by a transfer function from a plurality of predefinedenvironment locations to the personal sound zone.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of Example 25, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a particularfrequency is to be included in the plurality of selected frequenciesbased on the projected audio at the particular frequency and theprojected environment sound at the particular frequency.

Example 27 includes the subject matter of Example 26, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine that the particularfrequency is to be included in the plurality of selected frequencieswhen a difference between the projected audio at the particularfrequency and the projected environment sound at the particularfrequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 20-27, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine theplurality of sound control signals based on one or more sets of weightvectors corresponding to the one or more personal sound zones,respectively, a set of weight vectors corresponding to a personal soundzone comprising a plurality of weight vectors corresponding to theplurality of acoustic transducers, respectively, a weight vector in theset of weight vectors is based on an acoustic transfer function betweenan acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and thepersonal sound zone.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of Example 28, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine a sound control signalfor a particular acoustic transducer by applying to an audio input to beheard in the personal sound zone a weight vector corresponding to theparticular acoustic transducer from the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of Example 28 or 29, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the set ofweight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on a firstplurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality ofacoustic transfer functions, the first plurality of acoustic transferfunctions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the pluralityof acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, the secondplurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transferfunctions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or moremonitoring locations outside the personal sound zone.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustictransfer functions in the first or second pluralities of acoustictransfer functions based on environment acoustic informationrepresenting environment acoustic sound at a plurality of predefinedenvironment locations, which are defined with respect to an environmentincluding the one or more personal sound zones.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of Example 30 or 31, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or moreacoustic transfer functions in the first or second pluralities ofacoustic transfer functions based on a change in the location of thepersonal sound zone.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 30-32, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or moreacoustic transfer functions in the first or second pluralities ofacoustic transfer functions based on environment parameter informationof one or more environmental parameters of an environment including theone or more personal sound zones.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 28-33, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the set ofweight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on acriterion relating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and asecond acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises anacoustic energy at the personal sound zone based on the set of weightvectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, wherein the secondacoustic energy comprises an acoustic energy at one or more monitoringlocations outside the personal sound zone based on the set of weightvectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of Example 34, and optionally,wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on avolume at which the audio input is to be heard in the personal soundzone, and minimizing the second energy.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 28-35, andoptionally, wherein the weight vector comprises a plurality of weightscorresponding to a respective plurality of acoustic frequencies.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 20-36, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the soundcontrol pattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, thefirst audio input for a first personal sound zone, the second audioinput for a second personal sound zone, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine the sound control pattern based on a firstplurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sound at a firstplurality of monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within thefirst personal sound zone, and a second plurality of monitoring inputsrepresenting acoustic sound at a second plurality of monitoring sensinglocations, which are defined within the second personal sound zone.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 20-37, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the soundcontrol pattern based on an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) mechanismconfigured to reduce residual noise from outside of the one or morepersonal sound zones based on the one or more audio inputs and based onone or more ANC acoustic sensor inputs.

Example 39 includes a vehicle comprising one or more seats; and a soundcontrol system configured to control sound within one or more personalsound zones defined with respect to the one or more seats, the soundcontrol system comprising a plurality of monitoring acoustic sensors tosense acoustic sound at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensinglocations, which are defined within the one or more personal soundzones; a plurality of acoustic transducers; and a controller to receiveone or more audio inputs to be heard in the one or more personal soundzones, and a plurality of monitoring inputs from the plurality ofmonitoring acoustic sensors, wherein the plurality of monitoring inputsrepresent the acoustic sound at the plurality of predefined monitoringsensing locations, wherein the controller is configured to determine asound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs, and theplurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising aplurality of sound control signals configured to drive the plurality ofacoustic transducers, respectively, such that the one or more audioinputs are to be heard in the one or more personal sound zones.

Example 40 includes the subject matter of Example 39, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to receive environment acousticinformation representing environment acoustic sound at a plurality ofpredefined environment locations, which are defined with respect to anenvironment including the one or more personal sound zones, thecontroller configured to determine the sound control pattern based onthe environment acoustic information.

Example 41 includes the subject matter of Example 40, and optionally,wherein the environment acoustic information comprises information ofacoustic sound sensed by an acoustic sensor at an environment locationof the plurality of predefined environment locations.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of Example 40 or 41, andoptionally, wherein the environment acoustic information comprisesinformation of at least one of an audio signal, or acoustic soundgenerated by a predefined audio source.

Example 43 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 40-42, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine aplurality of selected frequencies to be included in the sound controlpattern, the controller configured to select the plurality of selectedfrequencies from a frequency spectrum based on the environment acousticinformation and the one or more audio inputs.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of Example 43, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine the plurality ofselected frequencies based on projected audio and projected environmentsound, the projected audio is based on a projection of an audio input,which is to be heard at a personal sound zone, by a transfer functionfrom the plurality of transducers to the personal sound zone, theprojected environment sound is based on a projection of the environmentacoustic sound by a transfer function from a plurality of predefinedenvironment locations to the personal sound zone.

Example 45 includes the subject matter of Example 44, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a particularfrequency is to be included in the plurality of selected frequenciesbased on the projected audio at the particular frequency and theprojected environment sound at the particular frequency.

Example 46 includes the subject matter of Example 45, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine that the particularfrequency is to be included in the plurality of selected frequencieswhen a difference between the projected audio at the particularfrequency and the projected environment sound at the particularfrequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

Example 47 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39-46, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine theplurality of sound control signals based on one or more sets of weightvectors corresponding to the one or more personal sound zones,respectively, a set of weight vectors corresponding to a personal soundzone comprising a plurality of weight vectors corresponding to theplurality of acoustic transducers, respectively, a weight vector in theset of weight vectors is based on an acoustic transfer function betweenan acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and thepersonal sound zone.

Example 48 includes the subject matter of Example 47, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine a sound control signalfor a particular acoustic transducer by applying to an audio input to beheard in the personal sound zone a weight vector corresponding to theparticular acoustic transducer from the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone.

Example 49 includes the subject matter of Example 47 or 48, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the set ofweight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on a firstplurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality ofacoustic transfer functions, the first plurality of acoustic transferfunctions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the pluralityof acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, the secondplurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transferfunctions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or moremonitoring locations outside the personal sound zone.

Example 50 includes the subject matter of Example 49, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustictransfer functions in the first or second pluralities of acoustictransfer functions based on environment acoustic informationrepresenting environment acoustic sound at a plurality of predefinedenvironment locations, which are defined with respect to an environmentincluding the one or more personal sound zones.

Example 51 includes the subject matter of Example 49 or 50, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or moreacoustic transfer functions in the first or second pluralities ofacoustic transfer functions based on a change in the location of thepersonal sound zone.

Example 52 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 49-51, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to adjust one or moreacoustic transfer functions in the first or second pluralities ofacoustic transfer functions based on environment parameter informationof one or more environmental parameters of an environment including theone or more personal sound zones.

Example 53 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 47-52, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the set ofweight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on acriterion relating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and asecond acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises anacoustic energy at the personal sound zone based on the set of weightvectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, wherein the secondacoustic energy comprises an acoustic energy at one or more monitoringlocations outside the personal sound zone based on the set of weightvectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.

Example 54 includes the subject matter of Example 53, and optionally,wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on avolume at which the audio input is to be heard in the personal soundzone, and minimizing the second energy.

Example 55 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 47-54, andoptionally, wherein the weight vector comprises a plurality of weightscorresponding to a respective plurality of acoustic frequencies.

Example 56 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39-55, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the soundcontrol pattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, thefirst audio input for a first personal sound zone, the second audioinput for a second personal sound zone, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine the sound control pattern based on a firstplurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sound at a firstplurality of monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within thefirst personal sound zone, and a second plurality of monitoring inputsrepresenting acoustic sound at a second plurality of monitoring sensinglocations, which are defined within the second personal sound zone.

Example 57 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39-56, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine the soundcontrol pattern based on an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) mechanismconfigured to reduce residual noise from outside of the one or morepersonal sound zones based on the one or more audio inputs and based onone or more ANC acoustic sensor inputs.

Example 58 includes a method of sound control, the method comprisingprocessing one or more audio inputs to be heard in one or more personalsound zones, and a plurality of monitoring inputs, wherein the pluralityof monitoring inputs represent acoustic sound at a plurality ofpredefined monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within theone or more personal sound zones; determining a sound control patternbased on the one or more audio inputs, and the plurality of monitoringinputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of soundcontrol signals configured to drive a respective plurality of acoustictransducers such that the one or more audio inputs are to be heard inthe one or more personal sound zones; and outputting the plurality ofsound control signals to the plurality of acoustic transducers.

Example 59 includes the subject matter of Example 58, and optionally,comprising receiving environment acoustic information representingenvironment acoustic sound at a plurality of predefined environmentlocations, which are defined with respect to an environment includingthe one or more personal sound zones, and determining the sound controlpattern based on the environment acoustic information.

Example 60 includes the subject matter of Example 59, and optionally,wherein the environment acoustic information comprises information ofacoustic sound sensed by an acoustic sensor at an environment locationof the plurality of predefined environment locations.

Example 61 includes the subject matter of Example 59 or 60, andoptionally, wherein the environment acoustic information comprisesinformation of at least one of an audio signal, or acoustic soundgenerated by a predefined audio source.

Example 62 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 59-61, andoptionally, comprising determining a plurality of selected frequenciesto be included in the sound control pattern, and selecting the pluralityof selected frequencies from a frequency spectrum based on theenvironment acoustic information and the one or more audio inputs.

Example 63 includes the subject matter of Example 62, and optionally,comprising determining the plurality of selected frequencies based onprojected audio and projected environment sound, the projected audio isbased on a projection of an audio input, which is to be heard at apersonal sound zone, by a transfer function from the plurality oftransducers to the personal sound zone, the projected environment soundis based on a projection of the environment acoustic sound by a transferfunction from a plurality of predefined environment locations to thepersonal sound zone.

Example 64 includes the subject matter of Example 63, and optionally,comprising determining whether a particular frequency is to be includedin the plurality of selected frequencies based on the projected audio atthe particular frequency and the projected environment sound at theparticular frequency.

Example 65 includes the subject matter of Example 64, and optionally,comprising determining that the particular frequency is to be includedin the plurality of selected frequencies when a difference between theprojected audio at the particular frequency and the projectedenvironment sound at the particular frequency is greater than apredefined threshold.

Example 66 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 58-65, andoptionally, comprising determining the plurality of sound controlsignals based on one or more sets of weight vectors corresponding to theone or more personal sound zones, respectively, a set of weight vectorscorresponding to a personal sound zone comprising a plurality of weightvectors corresponding to the plurality of acoustic transducers,respectively, a weight vector in the set of weight vectors is based onan acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer of theplurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone.

Example 67 includes the subject matter of Example 66, and optionally,comprising determining a sound control signal for a particular acoustictransducer by applying to an audio input to be heard in the personalsound zone a weight vector corresponding to the particular acoustictransducer from the set of weight vectors corresponding to the personalsound zone.

Example 68 includes the subject matter of Example 66 or 67, andoptionally, comprising determining the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone based on a first plurality ofacoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transferfunctions, the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprisingacoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustictransducers and the personal sound zone, the second plurality ofacoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functionsbetween the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or more monitoringlocations outside the personal sound zone.

Example 69 includes the subject matter of Example 68, and optionally,comprising adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functions in thefirst or second pluralities of acoustic transfer functions based onenvironment acoustic information representing environment acoustic soundat a plurality of predefined environment locations, which are definedwith respect to an environment including the one or more personal soundzones.

Example 70 includes the subject matter of Example 68 or 69, andoptionally, comprising adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functionsin the first or second pluralities of acoustic transfer functions basedon a change in the location of the personal sound zone.

Example 71 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 68-70, andoptionally, comprising adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functionsin the first or second pluralities of acoustic transfer functions basedon environment parameter information of one or more environmentalparameters of an environment including the one or more personal soundzones.

Example 72 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 66-71, andoptionally, comprising determining the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone based on a criterion relatingto a contrast between a first acoustic energy and a second acousticenergy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises an acoustic energyat the personal sound zone based on the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone, wherein the second acousticenergy comprises an acoustic energy at one or more monitoring locationsoutside the personal sound zone based on the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone.

Example 73 includes the subject matter of Example 72, and optionally,wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on avolume at which the audio input is to be heard in the personal soundzone, and minimizing the second energy.

Example 74 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 66-73, andoptionally, wherein the weight vector comprises a plurality of weightscorresponding to a respective plurality of acoustic frequencies.

Example 75 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 58-74, andoptionally, comprising determining the sound control pattern based on atleast first and second audio inputs, the first audio input for a firstpersonal sound zone, the second audio input for a second personal soundzone, and determining the sound control pattern based on a firstplurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sound at a firstplurality of monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within thefirst personal sound zone, and a second plurality of monitoring inputsrepresenting acoustic sound at a second plurality of monitoring sensinglocations, which are defined within the second personal sound zone.

Example 76 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 58-75, andoptionally, comprising determining the sound control pattern based on anActive Noise Cancellation (ANC) mechanism configured to reduce residualnoise from outside of the one or more personal sound zones based on theone or more audio inputs and based on one or more ANC acoustic sensorinputs.

Example 77 includes a product comprising one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone processor, enable the at least one processor to cause a system ofsound control to process one or more audio inputs to be heard in one ormore personal sound zones, and a plurality of monitoring inputs, whereinthe plurality of monitoring inputs represent acoustic sound at aplurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations, which are definedwithin the one or more personal sound zones; determine a sound controlpattern based on the one or more audio inputs, and the plurality ofmonitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality ofsound control signals configured to drive a respective plurality ofacoustic transducers such that the one or more audio inputs are to beheard in the one or more personal sound zones; and output the pluralityof sound control signals to the plurality of acoustic transducers.

Example 78 includes the subject matter of Example 77, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system of soundcontrol to receive environment acoustic information representingenvironment acoustic sound at a plurality of predefined environmentlocations, which are defined with respect to an environment includingthe one or more personal sound zones, and to determine the sound controlpattern based on the environment acoustic information.

Example 79 includes the subject matter of Example 78, and optionally,wherein the environment acoustic information comprises information ofacoustic sound sensed by an acoustic sensor at an environment locationof the plurality of predefined environment locations.

Example 80 includes the subject matter of Example 78 or 79, andoptionally, wherein the environment acoustic information comprisesinformation of at least one of an audio signal, or acoustic soundgenerated by a predefined audio source.

Example 81 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-80, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system ofsound control to determine a plurality of selected frequencies to beincluded in the sound control pattern, and to select the plurality ofselected frequencies from a frequency spectrum based on the environmentacoustic information and the one or more audio inputs.

Example 82 includes the subject matter of Example 81, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system of soundcontrol to determine the plurality of selected frequencies based onprojected audio and projected environment sound, the projected audio isbased on a projection of an audio input, which is to be heard at apersonal sound zone, by a transfer function from the plurality oftransducers to the personal sound zone, the projected environment soundis based on a projection of the environment acoustic sound by a transferfunction from a plurality of predefined environment locations to thepersonal sound zone.

Example 83 includes the subject matter of Example 82, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system of soundcontrol to determine whether a particular frequency is to be included inthe plurality of selected frequencies based on the projected audio atthe particular frequency and the projected environment sound at theparticular frequency.

Example 84 includes the subject matter of Example 83, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system of soundcontrol to determine that the particular frequency is to be included inthe plurality of selected frequencies when a difference between theprojected audio at the particular frequency and the projectedenvironment sound at the particular frequency is greater than apredefined threshold.

Example 85 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 77-84, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system ofsound control to determine the plurality of sound control signals basedon one or more sets of weight vectors corresponding to the one or morepersonal sound zones, respectively, a set of weight vectorscorresponding to a personal sound zone comprising a plurality of weightvectors corresponding to the plurality of acoustic transducers,respectively, a weight vector in the set of weight vectors is based onan acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer of theplurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone.

Example 86 includes the subject matter of Example 85, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system of soundcontrol to determine a sound control signal for a particular acoustictransducer by applying to an audio input to be heard in the personalsound zone a weight vector corresponding to the particular acoustictransducer from the set of weight vectors corresponding to the personalsound zone.

Example 87 includes the subject matter of Example 85 or 86, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system ofsound control to determine the set of weight vectors corresponding tothe personal sound zone based on a first plurality of acoustic transferfunctions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, thefirst plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustictransfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and thepersonal sound zone, the second plurality of acoustic transfer functionscomprising acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustictransducers and one or more monitoring locations outside the personalsound zone.

Example 88 includes the subject matter of Example 87, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system of soundcontrol to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the firstor second pluralities of acoustic transfer functions based onenvironment acoustic information representing environment acoustic soundat a plurality of predefined environment locations, which are definedwith respect to an environment including the one or more personal soundzones.

Example 89 includes the subject matter of Example 87 or 88, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system ofsound control to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in thefirst or second pluralities of acoustic transfer functions based on achange in the location of the personal sound zone.

Example 90 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 87-89, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system ofsound control to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in thefirst or second pluralities of acoustic transfer functions based onenvironment parameter information of one or more environmentalparameters of an environment including the one or more personal soundzones.

Example 91 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 85-90, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system ofsound control to determine the set of weight vectors corresponding tothe personal sound zone based on a criterion relating to a contrastbetween a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, whereinthe first acoustic energy comprises an acoustic energy at the personalsound zone based on the set of weight vectors corresponding to thepersonal sound zone, wherein the second acoustic energy comprises anacoustic energy at one or more monitoring locations outside the personalsound zone based on the set of weight vectors corresponding to thepersonal sound zone.

Example 92 includes the subject matter of Example 91, and optionally,wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on avolume at which the audio input is to be heard in the personal soundzone, and minimizing the second energy.

Example 93 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 85-92, andoptionally, wherein the weight vector comprises a plurality of weightscorresponding to a respective plurality of acoustic frequencies.

Example 94 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 77-93, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system ofsound control to determine the sound control pattern based on at leastfirst and second audio inputs, the first audio input for a firstpersonal sound zone, the second audio input for a second personal soundzone, and to determine the sound control pattern based on a firstplurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sound at a firstplurality of monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within thefirst personal sound zone, and a second plurality of monitoring inputsrepresenting acoustic sound at a second plurality of monitoring sensinglocations, which are defined within the second personal sound zone.

Example 95 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 77-94, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system ofsound control to determine the sound control pattern based on an ActiveNoise Cancellation (ANC) mechanism configured to reduce residual noisefrom outside of the one or more personal sound zones based on the one ormore audio inputs and based on one or more ANC acoustic sensor inputs.

Example 96 includes a apparatus of sound control, the apparatuscomprising means for processing one or more audio inputs to be heard inone or more personal sound zones, and a plurality of monitoring inputs,wherein the plurality of monitoring inputs represent acoustic sound at aplurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations, which are definedwithin the one or more personal sound zones; means for determining asound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs, and theplurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising aplurality of sound control signals configured to drive a respectiveplurality of acoustic transducers such that the one or more audio inputsare to be heard in the one or more personal sound zones; and means foroutputting the plurality of sound control signals to the plurality ofacoustic transducers.

Example 97 includes the subject matter of Example 96, and optionally,comprising means for receiving environment acoustic informationrepresenting environment acoustic sound at a plurality of predefinedenvironment locations, which are defined with respect to an environmentincluding the one or more personal sound zones, and determining thesound control pattern based on the environment acoustic information.

Example 98 includes the subject matter of Example 97, and optionally,wherein the environment acoustic information comprises information ofacoustic sound sensed by an acoustic sensor at an environment locationof the plurality of predefined environment locations.

Example 99 includes the subject matter of Example 97 or 98, andoptionally, wherein the environment acoustic information comprisesinformation of at least one of an audio signal, or acoustic soundgenerated by a predefined audio source.

Example 100 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 97-99,and optionally, comprising means for determining a plurality of selectedfrequencies to be included in the sound control pattern, and selectingthe plurality of selected frequencies from a frequency spectrum based onthe environment acoustic information and the one or more audio inputs.

Example 101 includes the subject matter of Example 100, and optionally,comprising means for determining the plurality of selected frequenciesbased on projected audio and projected environment sound, the projectedaudio is based on a projection of an audio input, which is to be heardat a personal sound zone, by a transfer function from the plurality oftransducers to the personal sound zone, the projected environment soundis based on a projection of the environment acoustic sound by a transferfunction from a plurality of predefined environment locations to thepersonal sound zone.

Example 102 includes the subject matter of Example 101, and optionally,comprising means for determining whether a particular frequency is to beincluded in the plurality of selected frequencies based on the projectedaudio at the particular frequency and the projected environment sound atthe particular frequency.

Example 103 includes the subject matter of Example 102, and optionally,comprising means for determining that the particular frequency is to beincluded in the plurality of selected frequencies when a differencebetween the projected audio at the particular frequency and theprojected environment sound at the particular frequency is greater thana predefined threshold.

Example 104 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 96-103,and optionally, comprising means for determining the plurality of soundcontrol signals based on one or more sets of weight vectorscorresponding to the one or more personal sound zones, respectively, aset of weight vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone comprisinga plurality of weight vectors corresponding to the plurality of acoustictransducers, respectively, a weight vector in the set of weight vectorsis based on an acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducerof the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone.

Example 105 includes the subject matter of Example 104, and optionally,comprising means for determining a sound control signal for a particularacoustic transducer by applying to an audio input to be heard in thepersonal sound zone a weight vector corresponding to the particularacoustic transducer from the set of weight vectors corresponding to thepersonal sound zone.

Example 106 includes the subject matter of Example 104 or 105, andoptionally, comprising means for determining the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone based on a first plurality ofacoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transferfunctions, the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprisingacoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustictransducers and the personal sound zone, the second plurality ofacoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functionsbetween the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or more monitoringlocations outside the personal sound zone.

Example 107 includes the subject matter of Example 106, and optionally,comprising means for adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functionsin the first or second pluralities of acoustic transfer functions basedon environment acoustic information representing environment acousticsound at a plurality of predefined environment locations, which aredefined with respect to an environment including the one or morepersonal sound zones.

Example 108 includes the subject matter of Example 106 or 107, andoptionally, comprising means for adjusting one or more acoustic transferfunctions in the first or second pluralities of acoustic transferfunctions based on a change in the location of the personal sound zone.

Example 109 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 106-108,and optionally, comprising means for adjusting one or more acoustictransfer functions in the first or second pluralities of acoustictransfer functions based on environment parameter information of one ormore environmental parameters of an environment including the one ormore personal sound zones.

Example 110 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 104-109,and optionally, comprising means for determining the set of weightvectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on a criterionrelating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and a secondacoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises an acousticenergy at the personal sound zone based on the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone, wherein the second acousticenergy comprises an acoustic energy at one or more monitoring locationsoutside the personal sound zone based on the set of weight vectorscorresponding to the personal sound zone.

Example 111 includes the subject matter of Example 110, and optionally,wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on avolume at which the audio input is to be heard in the personal soundzone, and minimizing the second energy.

Example 112 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 104-111,and optionally, wherein the weight vector comprises a plurality ofweights corresponding to a respective plurality of acoustic frequencies.

Example 113 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 96-112,and optionally, comprising means for determining the sound controlpattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, the first audioinput for a first personal sound zone, the second audio input for asecond personal sound zone, and determining the sound control patternbased on a first plurality of monitoring inputs representing acousticsound at a first plurality of monitoring sensing locations, which aredefined within the first personal sound zone, and a second plurality ofmonitoring inputs representing acoustic sound at a second plurality ofmonitoring sensing locations, which are defined within the secondpersonal sound zone.

Example 114 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 96-113,and optionally, comprising means for determining the sound controlpattern based on an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) mechanism configuredto reduce residual noise from outside of the one or more personal soundzones based on the one or more audio inputs and based on one or more ANCacoustic sensor inputs.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features have been illustrated and described herein, manymodifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur tothose skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that theappended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changesas fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an input to receive an audio input to be heard in a personal sound zone, environment information, and monitoring information, wherein the environment information comprises information corresponding to an environment including the personal sound zone, wherein the monitoring information comprises a plurality of monitoring inputs representing sound at a plurality of monitoring locations, which are defined within the personal sound zone; a controller configured to determine a sound control pattern based on the audio input, the environment information, and the plurality of monitoring inputs, wherein the sound control pattern comprises a plurality of sound control signals configured to drive a respective plurality of acoustic transducers such that the audio input is be heard in the personal sound zone; and an output to output the plurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustic transducers.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern such that the audio input is to be heard in the personal sound zone with a first sound intensity, and such that the audio input is not to be heard with more than a second sound intensity outside the personal sound zone, wherein the second sound intensity is less than the first sound intensity.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern based on a criterion relating to a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises an acoustic energy based on the sound control pattern in the personal sound zone, wherein the second acoustic energy comprises an acoustic energy based on the sound control pattern at one or more locations outside the personal sound zone.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy according to a first energy limit, and limiting the second energy according to a second energy limit, wherein the first energy limit is different from the second energy limit.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first energy limit is greater than the second energy limit.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on a setting at which the audio input is to be heard in the personal sound zone.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on a volume at which the audio input is to be heard in the personal sound zone.
 8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the criterion comprises minimizing the second energy.
 9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on a setting at which the audio input is to be heard in the personal sound zone, and minimizing the second energy.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern such that the audio input is to be heard in the personal sound zone according to a user preference of a user of the personal sound zone.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern based on a set of weight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, the set of weight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone comprising a plurality of weight vectors corresponding to the plurality of acoustic transducers, respectively, wherein a weight vector in the set of weight vectors is based on an acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone,
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the weight vector comprises a plurality of weights corresponding to a respective plurality of acoustic frequencies.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to determine a sound control signal for a particular acoustic transducer by applying to the audio input to be heard in the personal sound zone a weight vector corresponding to the particular acoustic transducer from the set of weight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to determine the set of weight vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on a first plurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, the second plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or more locations outside the personal sound zone.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more acoustic transfer functions in at least one of the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions or the second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on the environment information.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on a location of the personal sound zone.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment information comprises information of one or more environmental parameters corresponding to one or more environment locations.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment information comprises temperature information corresponding to a temperature at one or more environment locations.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment information comprises information from a vehicular system of a vehicle comprising the personal sound zone.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment information comprises environment sound information representing environment sound at one or more environment locations.
 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment information comprises information of sound sensed by an acoustic sensor at an environment location.
 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment information comprises information of at least one of an audio signal or acoustic sound generated by a predefined audio source.
 23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to identify a plurality of selected frequencies in a frequency spectrum based on the environment information, wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern comprising the plurality of selected frequencies and excluding one or more non-selected frequencies in the frequency spectrum.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to identify the plurality of selected frequencies based on projected audio and projected environment sound, wherein the projected audio is based on a projection of the audio input by a transfer function from the plurality of transducers to the personal sound zone, wherein the projected environment sound is based on a projection of environment sound by a transfer function from one or more environment locations to the personal sound zone.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a particular frequency is to be included in the plurality of selected frequencies or excluded from the plurality of selected frequencies based on the projected audio at the particular frequency and the projected environment sound at the particular frequency.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the particular frequency is to be included in the plurality of selected frequencies when a difference between the projected audio at the particular frequency and the projected environment sound at the particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.
 27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern based on a first audio input for a first personal sound zone, a second audio input for a second personal sound zone, a first plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sound at a first plurality of monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within the first personal sound zone, and a second plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sound at a second plurality of monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within the second personal sound zone.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern such that the first audio input is to be heard in the first personal sound zone and the second audio input is to be heard in the second personal sound zone.
 29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern to focus the first audio input towards the first personal sound zone and to focus the second audio input towards the second personal sound zone.
 30. A system comprising: a seat; and a sound control system configured to control sound within a personal sound zone defined with respect to the seat, the sound control system comprising: a plurality of monitoring acoustic sensors to sense acoustic sound at a plurality of monitoring sensing locations, which are defined within the personal sound zone; a plurality of acoustic transducers; and a controller configured to determine a sound control pattern based on an audio input to be heard in the personal sound zone, environment information, and monitoring information, wherein the environment information comprises information corresponding to an environment including the personal sound zone, wherein the monitoring information comprises information based on a plurality of monitoring inputs from the plurality of monitoring acoustic sensors, wherein the sound control pattern comprises a plurality of sound control signals configured to drive the plurality of acoustic transducers, respectively, such that the audio input is be heard in the personal sound zone.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the personal sound zone is configured to surround an area defined with respect to a headrest of the seat.
 32. The system of claim 30 comprising a vehicle.
 33. A product comprising one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at least one processor, enable the at least one processor to cause a system of sound control to: determine a sound control pattern based on an audio input to be heard in a personal sound zone, environment information, and monitoring information, wherein the environment information comprises information corresponding to an environment including the personal sound zone, wherein the monitoring information comprises a plurality of monitoring inputs representing sound at a plurality of monitoring locations, which are defined within the sound zone, wherein the sound control pattern comprises a plurality of sound control signals configured to drive a respective plurality of acoustic transducers such that the audio input is be heard in the personal sound zone; and output the plurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustic transducers.
 34. The product of claim 33, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system of sound control to determine the sound control pattern based on a criterion relating to a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises an acoustic energy based on the sound control pattern in the personal sound zone, wherein the second acoustic energy comprises an acoustic energy based on the sound control pattern at one or more locations outside the personal sound zone. 